West Knoxville, TN May 2024

Dynamic Duo:

Patricia Nash and her daughter

Jennifer Vanderink

on Building a Brand Together

Taking Care of Our Future, One Child at A Time

Since 1937, East Tennessee Children’s Hospital has been your partner in expert care for your child. From primary care to emergencies and surgeries, our team is here to put your family first. East Tennessee Children’s Hospital is taking care of our future, one child at a time.

Let’s Hear It for the Ladies

This May, let’s hear it for the ladies as we showcase mother-daughter acts that are either starting up, building out, or handing down to the next generation a few of our favorite home-grown brands.

Jennie Treadway-Miller chatted with Patricia Nash and her daughter and business partner, Jennifer Vanderink, as they described the adventures and benefits of international brand-building with family members.

For long-time residents like me who loved shopping discount fabrics at Mill Agent, it’s exciting to see how interior designer Shaunda Spell and her husband, with the support of her HGTV-veteran mother, transformed it into a full-service design center.

Then, meet three generations — Mary Cate, daughters Stephanie Noble and Stacy Mead, and granddaughter Caroline — who share a family-sized passion for customized client pampering at European Body Works (EBW).

Grab your brunch bunch this month and follow the recommendations of Melissa Lushbaugh to a couple of primo options on Knoxville’s elevated brunch scene. There’s something for everyone’s taste to toast.

Our PYA Waltman partner/columnist Melissa Ballard coaches on the productive habit of curating a checklist to organize, inspire, monitor progress, and build new muscles in daily achievement.

Enjoy more storytelling with remarkable characters from the city’s past on the “Knoxville Chronicles” podcast from our monthly contributor and friends at Knoxville History Project.

Marc and I are honoring our mothers on May 12, and though we no longer have them in our lives, we still feel their presence. By whatever endearing name we call them, in whatever language, however they are linked to us by birth, adoption, re-marriage, fostering, or other relationship, we’re grateful for their loving devotion.

We join all Americans this Memorial Day in honoring the U.S. military personnel who died while serving and the sacrifice they and their families made defending our freedom.

Thank you to all the ladies who carve out time in your uber-busy lives to read our magazine. Sharing our stories, posting on your social media, and recommending our advertisers to friends and family means the world to us.  We all trust our sisters, moms, grandmothers, aunts, and gal-pals to steer us in the right direction for just the right service or product. Our partners appreciate your loyalty and recommendations!

Enjoy the last month of Spring as we watch the days grow longer!

AMY

May 2024

PUBLISHER

Marc Rochelson | marc.rochelson@citylifestyle.com

MANAGING EDITOR

Amy Campbell | amy.campbell@citylifestyle.com

PHOTO EDITOR

Jennifer Adams | Jennifer.Adams@citylifestyle.com

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Patricia Storm Broyles, Jennie Treadway-Miller, Melissa Ballard, CFP®, South Made Marketing,

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

Shawn Poynter, Taylor Martin, South Made Marketing, Patricia Nash

Corporate Team

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Steven Schowengerdt

CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER Matthew Perry

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF HR Janeane Thompson

TECHNICAL DIRECTOR Josh Klein

AD DESIGNER Mary Albers

LAYOUT DESIGNER Kelsi Southard

Learn how to start your own publication at citylifestyle.com/franchise.

Securing a Business Owner’s Legacy

The Importance of Estate Planning for Business Owners

Article by Mital D. Patel Patel & Eisenhower, PLLC

As a business a orney, I focus on establishing new business entities, dra ing contracts, navigating compliance with local, state, and federal laws, and providing guidance to ensure our clients' enterprises thrive. Many of our business clients benefit from the collaboration with my law partner, Julie D. Eisenhower, who focuses on the business owner’s estate planning. As the only Master Certified Estate Planner® who is also a practicing a orney in Tennessee, Julie has expertise that offers our business clients the benefit of safeguarding their assets, preserving their legacies, and providing for the continuity and prosperity of their businesses in the event of illness or death.

A crucial decision for all business owners, Estate Planning:

1. Provides clarity and direction regarding the distribution of assets upon the owner's death. Without a comprehensive plan in place, disputes among heirs or business partners could arise, potentially leading to legal ba les, financial losses, or the dissolution of the business.

2. Allows business owners to minimize tax liabilities and maximize the value of their estates. Through trusts, gi ing, and business succession planning, owners can effectively manage their tax burden, preserving wealth for future generations or charitable endeavors.

3. Enables business owners to designate successors and establish a clear succession plan. By identifying and training key individuals to assume leadership roles, owners can ensure a smooth transition and minimize disruptions to business operations.

4. Offers mechanisms for protecting the business against unforeseen events, such as the incapacity or disability of the owner.

5. Empowers business owners to address specific concerns unique to their industry or business structure, including: protecting intellectual property, ensuring the continued operation of a family-owned business, and navigating complex partnership agreements.

By working collaboratively, we can ensure cohesion between the documents dra ed for both business and estate planning, tailoring each aspect to suit the unique circumstances of our clients. This integrated approach allows us to address all aspects of our clients' financial and legal affairs, providing them with peace of mind and confidence in their future success while safeguarding their company's legacy.

city scene

Marlene Viravec, Monica Freeman 2: Sherry Cooper, Molly Deuschle, Mary Kay Greiner, Cori Hostetter, Amy Rae Dunn 3: Susan Davis with Knoxville Akima Club 80's Mixtape Cabaret 2024 celebrating 77 years. 4: Franciel Linares, Denise Williams, Ivette Gibbe-Fields, Molly Deuschle, Sherry Cooper, Kay Nowinski 5: Bruce and Madlyn Mottern 6: Stacey Serafin, Shawna Chesney, Sherry Cooper, Brandon Smithey, Myra Leichtweis, Harriet Miller, Lisa Bodie 7: Wynne Caffey-Knight, Nancy Wilson, Shawna Chesney Photography by Akima Club

1:

of Knoxville

Tennessee Theatre Marquee Awards

The Tennessee Theatre is excited to announce the first-ever Marquee Awards on May 11 at 7 p.m. This awards ceremony will be the culmination of a year-long program for area high schools. The Marquee Awards are dedicated to supporting the talents, education, and opportunities of high school theatre students in East Tennessee. For more information, visit  TennesseeTheatre.com/education/ marquee-awards

Mountain Commerce Bank Challenge

Legacy Parks Foundation is partnering for a third year with Mountain Commerce Bank to announce the Mountain Commerce Bank Challenge. Guiding participants through 75 miles of hikes, walks, runs, bike rides, and paddles. Participation is free and those who log 75 miles (or more!) receive a signature patch and recognition for their accomplishment. For more information LegacyParks.org

The Knoxville Museum of Art’s Summer Art Academy

The Knoxville Museum of Art’s Summer Art Academy offers quality educational opportunities through drawing, painting, sculpture, and more! Workshop ages 3-17. June 3-July 26.  Scholarships will be offered for students demonstrating financial need. These scholarships are available on a first-come, first-served basis as monies allow. For more information, call (865) 525-6101 ext. 241 or email education@knoxart.org.

THE DYNAMIC MOTHER-DAUGHTER DUO ON BUILDING A BRAND TOGETHER

Knoxville’s Patricia Nash and Jennifer Vanderink

ARTICLE BY JENNIE TREADWAY-MILLER | PHOTOGRAPHY BY SHAWN POYNTER, PATRICIA NASH

Jennifer and Patricia at Jennifer's home in West Knoxville. Photo Shawn Poynter

Photo: Patricia Nash

Photo: Patricia Nash

If I’m going to be the head of a company, I can’t do it halfway. - Patricia Nash

Patricia Nash and her daughter, Jennifer Vanderink, sit at the conference table in their second-floor corporate office off N. 6th Ave trying to remember the words to a song. It’s one that reminds Patricia of meeting her husband Jeff while she was in England. They married in 2006 and the song has something to do with the weather. They look to me for an answer, if there are lyrics I remember, if I know what song they’re talking about, but I can’t place it, and then I wonder if this is what it’s like to work with family.

“What is it like to work together?” I ask them eventually, and then to Patricia specifically. “Do you take off your Mom Hat when you’re here?”

She laughs a little and shakes her head.

“Initially, I tried not to be so controlling. Where are you? What are you doing? All that follow-up you do,” she says.

“I don’t think of you as controlling, and you give me a lot of autonomy,” Jennifer says to her mother.

Jennifer joined Patricia Nash Designs in 2013 and currently serves as vice president of operations and strategy, along with general counsel. She graduated from the University of Tennessee College of Law in 2007.

“I don’t know that she was aware of my anxiety,” Patricia tells me.

“She hid it well.” Jennifer smiles.

“That was in my mind at the time, but I got over it,” says Patricia. “So many things have changed culturally. Gone are the days when you micro-managed your employees.”

Patricia Nash has been in business for herself for forty-five years, and so far, every cultural, economic, and personal curve in the road has provided an opportunity for her to shift course. When her namesake brand debuted in 2010, she’d already invested in herself and her ideas three times over. Her designer leather handbag company – the fifth largest in midtier department stores, among brands such as Coach, Kate Spade, and Dooney & Bourke – will celebrate its 15th anniversary next year. To mark the occasion, they’re doing a brand refresh, and Patricia is showing no signs of slowing down.

“If I’m going to be the head of a company, I can’t do it halfway,” she says. “It speaks to the vision. If I can be involved in some capacity until I don’t have a brain anymore, that would be a good thing.”

Patricia moved from North Dakota to Texas when she was nine years old, so her formative years and early adulthood were spent in Houston. She was a creative child and an entrepreneurial adult, so after a brief stint in college to study accounting – “the best short education I’ve ever had,” she says – she and her then-husband opened a shop that sold basketry, vases, and silk flowers, what she calls a “Pier One concept.” It was the late-70s, and one store grew to three. Soon Patricia was pregnant with her first child, Jennifer. At every angle, life looked to be on an upswing.

Then, while pregnant with her second child, Jeffrey, one of the stores was lost in a fire, and her husband’s business wasn’t doing well either. She pivoted, went to work for a national housewares company, and learned about the wholesale side of consumer products. It was an education that gave energy to her entrepreneurial spirit.

“I started a company called Innovo. We created kids’ aprons, canvas bags, things like that. We started in my garage, sewing all the items ourselves,” says Patricia. She acquired licenses for major companies, brands, and characters, such as the NFL, Warner Brothers, the Muppets, and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. “That took me into the early 1990s with 700 employees. Then I took the company public.”

This is a moment worth noting. Creative people aren’t always known for their sharp-sighted business skills or the ability to see a golden opportunity and place a winning bet. But Innovo did well, a credit to Patricia’s complementary talents.

“I feel bad when creative people don’t have the strategic part of their brain to access. It’s not always that the product is better,” she says. “It’s the combination of both instincts – creative and strategic. I come up with what I want and figure out how to make it happen.”

“We’re all open and count on each other for everything."

- Jennifer Vanderink

Patricia and Jennifer in their Knoxville showroom. Photo: Patricia Nash

Patricia and her children left Texas when Jennifer was eleven and lived for several years in Springfield, Tennessee, just north of Nashville. In 1998, as Jennifer started college at Vanderbilt, Patricia and her fifteen-year-old son moved to Knoxville, where they came to another crossroad.

“Our board of directors and shareholders were concerned about acquisitions not going well, and they wanted me to move to L.A. That’s when I made a life change, resigned, and cashed out the stock,” says Patricia. “I remember sitting in the driveway talking to the gentleman who was going to take my place, who’d I recommended, and I said to him, Take care of my baby. I remember weeping. I didn’t believe in where they were heading. It didn’t feel like me. Being a public company exposes you to a different way of thinking, and you don’t always get to run the business the way you want to.”

There was little idle time after that. Patricia continued working in the industry, doing private labels for American Eagle and Express, and then, within three years, the door opened to develop her own brand, a concept that would ultimately represent everything she holds dear – traveling, craftsmanship, and family.

Patricia had already spent twenty years developing relationships with retail partners, such as Macy’s and Dillard’s, building the sort of reputation that cannot be done without integrity, and it helped that they already understood the dynamics of supply and demand after working in wholesale for so long. Within three more years, Patricia Nash Designs was on its way. By 2013, Jennifer joined the team after spending six years working for the Knoxville Chamber and starting a family of her own.

CONTINUED >

Jennifer and Patricia at Jennifer's home in West Knoxville. Photo: Shawn Poynter

“I loved working for a nonprofit, and it was a great environment, but there was nowhere to go from there. That’s when [Mom and I] had a serious conversation,” says Jennifer. “Knowing what she did business-wise when I was growing up, I have the luxury of picking up my phone and being constantly connected. I remember being eight years old and she’d come home to tuck us in and then get back to work.”

Jennifer says that while her mother is a visionary, she offers an organizational and logistical component to the team, a sentiment with which her mother agrees. Together, they share similar taste and style. They love to travel through Europe together and research ideas for new collections. While there was early intention to keep business and home life separate, there was never a chance of it lasting.

“The benefit of her being my mother and my boss is I can go pick up my kids and she’s fine with it,” says Jennifer. “I thought when I started working with her that I wouldn’t talk about the kids and it would be all work, and then on the weekends we wouldn’t talk about work. But thirty minutes into my first day she was asking about the kids. I remember going home and thinking, well that didn’t work .”

It didn’t matter. Their skills and goals aligned at work, and the family has stayed close through it all.

“I’ve been blessed with a good relationship with both my kids their entire life. We always spend two weeks together each year at different times, and there’s always the big dinner conversations, so they’re aware of how lucky they are, and how this isn’t normal,” says Patricia.

“We have our long-term goals set and we have people in the family we can trust.”

“We’re all open and count on each other for everything,” adds Jennifer. “We live a mile and a half from each other, and I try to model our relationship with my own kids. She never forced us to stay here. Not every family is like that, and I don’t take it for granted.”

Back in March, Patricia went to Paris and popped into Kiliwatch, a vintage shop in the 2nd Arrondissement, a stone’s throw from the Louvre. There, she spotted a Patricia Nash bag from a collection they put out more than seven years ago. She beamed, snapped a photo, and sent it to her kids.

“I talk a lot about authenticity and real value. It feels good when you know you’re connected to something good, when you know the intentions are good and what the company stands for,” says Patricia.

Brand loyalty is something they’ve enjoyed for nearly fifteen years, but national recognition is a different story, and that’s in part what they’re focusing on next. Raising brand awareness, designing for both the professional and casual woman, all while keeping a toe in European vintage design and offering the kind of craftsmanship the family is proud of.

“We’re critiquing the logo and making sure we stay focused on that core heritage look,” says Patricia. “My creative head is going on to the next wow and making sure it lasts for years.”

They’re also working on opening the first Patricia Nash outlet store near Nashville, at the Tanger Outlet in Antioch.

“We have a loyal customer base who’s always looking for a new design, and we want to maintain that and make them happy,” says Jennifer, “but there’s a huge population looking for something else.”

A pâtisserie break while shopping in Paris

“It feels good when you know you’re connected to something good, when you know the intentions are good and what the company stands for.”

- Patricia Nash

Working in tanneries in Italy. Photo: Patricia Nash

Patricia Nash in their Knoxville showroom. Photo: Patricia Nash

CARING

A high level of care goes best with a high level of compassion. Because the best outcomes start with genuine empathy. That means understanding our patients’ medical and emotional needs, so we can provide a more personalized care experience and a better overall outcome. And that’s what wisdom can do for you.

Knoxville Chronicles Podcast

Brought to Listeners by the Knoxville History Project

This month, the Knoxville History Project showcases a selection of podcast episodes that you can listen to online, highlighting some of the most interesting of the city’s old stories that still have relevance today. In addition to the four stories highlighted here, other podcast episodes include: “The Saturnalia of 1893,” “In Walked Mr. Ghost,” “The Conjure Man,” “Creature of the Cumberlands” and more

ARTICLE BY JACK NEELY AND PAUL JAMES

Southern Railway Station Postcard

Alec Riedl Postcard Collection KHP

Find all episodes by searching for “Knoxville Chronicles” on your preferred podcast app or point your browser directly to buzzsprout.com/2119094 or via KnoxvilleHistoryProject.org

MAGGIE LATTIMORE: THE MATRON OF DEPOT STREET

When the Southern Railway Station on Depot Street opened in 1903, there was one face that everyone got used to seeing every day—Maggie Lattimore, the station’s matron. Although she was an African American woman in a segregated train station, Lattimore often seemed to be in charge, catering to passengers of all colors. If there was trouble, she would fix it. Dressed in an immaculate uniform and white cap, one journalist described her as “ always ready for the arrival of passenger trains, 12 hours every day and Sunday. She was well informed about affairs in the city and could direct persons to places they were hunting.” Maggie Lattimore worked at the station until she was 80 years old. On her retirement, Southern Railway gave her a medal “as large as two silver dollars” for a half-century of service.

IMAGE: South Railway Station. (Alec Riedl Knoxville Postcard Collection/KHP.)

THE IMMORTAL KIOSK AND THE HOTTEST DAY

The elegant old weather kiosk on the corner of Clinch Avenue and Market Street outside the Custom House looks like something built for an Exposition of the beaux-arts era. But in fact, it was originally installed in 1912. People used to gather around it

to see what the federal weatherman had observed and what they might expect next. Back then, checking on the weather was a social event. So many people hung out around it, they earned a nickname – the Kiosk Leaners. Today, the relic is said to be one of America’s only remnants of the Weather Kiosk Era. It’s both a rarity and a landmark, and one very hot day, more than 90 years ago, it attracted a very large crowd.

IMAGE: Customs House on Clinch Avenue. (Alec Riedl Knoxville Postcard Collection/KHP.)

LOVE IN THE TIME OF UPHEAVAL: THE CANSLER ELOPEMENT

The Cansler family had a big impact on Knoxville in the late 19th century and the first half of the 20th. In Mechanicsville, there’s a Cansler Street and a Cansler Building on University Avenue. Not far from there, off Western Avenue, is the old Laura Cansler School, a former “colored” elementary school, now home to Wesley House. In East Knoxville, there’s the Cansler Family YMCA. But the Cansler name wouldn’t be known if not for a love story. Charles W. Cansler, a pioneer of the African American genealogical narrative, published his family’s unusual history in his 1939 book  Three Generations: The Story of a Colored Family in East Tennessee. That book preceded Alex Haley’s  Roots  by 37 years.

IMAGE: Cansler Family Reunion, 1911. (Beck Cultural Exchange Center.)

Clinch Avenue at Custom House with Weather Kiosk 1900s Alec Reidl Collection XXL

Cansler Family Reunion Beck Cultural Exchange Center

MATILDA X

In 1856, before the Civil War, Dr. William J. Baker, with assistance from a few others including his suffering patient, hurried medical science along by performing one of the first hysterectomy surgeries in the United States here on Gay Street. Of that historic team of four surgeons, the youngest is the one best remembered today. Knoxvillians may recognize the name, even if they don’t remember right away where they’ve seen it. It’s the name of “Our Beloved Physician,” memorialized with the stout marble arch at the Knox County Courthouse on the corner of Gay and Main. At 23, Dr. John Mason Boyd helped perform surgery on a 34-year-old African American woman named Matilda. Remarkably, she lived for 34 years after her surgery, but then her life took a dark turn.

IMAGE: Dr. John Mason Boyd memorial on Gay Street. (Knoxville History Project.)

ABOUT KHP

The mission of the Knoxville History Project (KHP) is to research, preserve, and promote the history and culture of Knoxville, Tennessee. Donations to support the work of the Knoxville History Project, an educational nonprofit, are always welcome and appreciated. KHP’s publications include the local bestseller, Historic Knoxville: The Curious Visitor’s Guide , Historic Bearden: The 200-Year Story of Knoxville’s Fourth Creek Valley, and more. Copies are available at KnoxvilleHistoryProject.org and local bookstores, including Union Ave Books.

To get in touch, please contact us at (865) 337-7723 or email Paul@KnoxHistoryProject.org. Learn more at KnoxvilleHistoryProject.org

Downtown Knoxville highlights the city’s visual history through 180 photographs, maps, and illustrations, featuring well-known classics and many seldom seen. From the postcolonial years through the Civil War and onward to Knoxville’s emergence as an industrial city, downtown is where everything happened, the setting of the city’s most memorable stories and legends.

John Mason Boyd Arch KHP

Mill Agent & Design Company

A DESIGNER FABRIC STORE, DESIGN CENTER, AND BOUTIQUE FIRM

ARTICLE BY WEST KNOXVILLE LIFESTYLE STAFF

PHOTOGRAPHY BY SOUTH

MADE MARKETING

The beloved discount fabrics brand Mill Agent, founded in 1938, closed one hot day in July 2022 only to re-open a few short weeks later in the Bearden-area Design District under an expanded brand, Mill Agent & Design Company. Husband and wife owners Martin and Judy Abrams, whose family purchased it in 1963, sold it to husband and wife owners, Shaunda Spell and Stephen Sallas. The torch was passed under a new interior design vision.

Shaunda, who has a degree in Residential Interior Design, is not related to the Abrams but was an independent designer who kept the Mill Agent staff busy as she curated custom projects across the various brands they carried. Fresh out of interior design school, her first entrepreneurial venture was Lifestyle Designs, a business to serve clients with remodels and new construction.

“Martin and Judy took such good care of me and my clients. They saw how hard I worked and hustled for clients. I brought them a ton of business - especially in 2019 which was a banner year for me with them,” Shaunda says. “Looking to retire, they approached me about taking over the business right before Covid. That timing was impossible, but I always knew somehow, I would own Mill Agent one day.”

Fast forward to 2022, Shaunda had met and married Stephen, and now had a blended family with six kids (2-year-old twins, plus a 6-, 10-, 13-, and 15-year-old).

Judy wanted to meet their kids, so she and Martin came to dinner. Stephen had served with the Army National Guard for 12 years but was now ready for a career shift. “We all started talking shop and it turned into a business dinner. Stephen and I both knew my interior design business was going well and imagined how much more we could do with a brick-and-mortar space.”

The Abrams’ lease was up in July, and their expectation was to close Mill Agent and retire.

“So, we jumped quickly. Stephen left his job and became co-owner/operator, or as we like to call himthe Muscle behind Mill Agent,” Shaunda says, laughing. They had six weeks to pack up, move locations and rebrand Mill Agent with a whole new concept under new ownership.

“It was such an honor that they entrusted us with both the legacy and the future of Mill Agent.  It makes me smile when clients walk through our doors and share stories of the days when it was on Gay Street, and they would shop there or be taken to browse with their parents. But we knew this discount fabric store was ready for a new business model for next-generation clients and designers,” says Shaunda. Carrying large inventories of bolts of fabric is not sustainable now when customers want to choose and customize fabric and its application. “Now we are able to better serve them, rather than have clients select from what we have in stock.”

“What sets us apart? As Mill Agent always had, we have designer fabrics and can custom-create cushions, upholstery, draperies, pillows and bedding, wall coverings and window treatments; but we also carry furniture and lighting lines.”

As the reimagined Mill Agent & Design Company, they offer a design team with residential and commercial degrees equipped to create floor plans and tackle remodels with skill sets to complete full-scale projects, planning, and management. The boutique firm has also done salon and hotel interior design, among other commercial projects, and have had area builders reach out to them to produce floor plans, layouts and 3-D renderings.

Other services include paint consults, art curation, staging and styling, purchasing parameters, and furniture plans. Shaunda, in fact, custom-designs furniture pieces working with local wood workers to build and install.

“It’s such an honor they entrusted us with the legacy and future of Mill Agent, but we knew this discount fabric store was ready for a new business model for next-generation clients and designers.”

“It’s supposed to be fun. Design can be very stressful – a lot of to-dos and decision making. I like to consider us lights in the project that keep the hope going during the process.”

“In short,” Shaunda sums up, “We are a designer fabric store, design center with workrooms, and a boutique firm.

“We can blend both worlds, soft goods and pretty things as well as the construction-side and the functionality, out of one brick-and-mortar space,” Shaunda adds, “filtering goods and professional services we have at our fingertips here for my full-scale design clients.”

In turn, they can better serve walk-in fabric customers who may need more than just fabric. Her vision of Lifestyle Designs as an umbrella brand under Mill Agent & Design Company can fulfill her ambitious dreams to encompass full-circle design services in the Knoxville market.

The new owners, who were both born in Florida, but grew up in Knoxville, have survived the blood, sweat, and tears invested into the first year of the business. They met when Shaunda’s sister introduced them for a design project. Converting a school bus into a traveling RV was a family dream, but after his wife passed away, Stephen still wanted to fulfill that promise to his four kids.

“We started working on the project together,” Shaunda says. “We first became friends and then started dating. We married six months later, became pregnant two months later, had twins eight months later, and bought a business six months later. A year after that purchase, we started renovating our home. It’s definitely been one wonderful whirlwind.”

Shaunda, as lead designer, has a support team that is a family affair. Her sister, Ciara Mattice, helped her in getting the new business going. Her mother, Jeza Postelle, is the firm’s office manager and also brings her custom seamstress Perfect Stitch business and nearly two decades of experience working for two of

the original founders of HGTV to the family enterprise.  “I grew up with the love of interior design and home remodels going with my mom to HGTV sets,” Shaunda says.

Shaunda describes her design colleagues as a powerhouse team who strive to be diligent, straightforward, and transparent. She wants the Knoxville market to understand that “Mill Agent is not the discount fabric house in town anymore, but we know design is an investment and we take meeting client budgets seriously. We are careful stewards of their resources without compromising quality,” she adds.

Although walk-ins are welcome, Mill Agent & Design Company strongly recommends those looking for assistance with a project make an appointment with one of the designers.

“We design for our clients’ personal taste. It’s meant to be a personal and unique experience. How can I make what they like look the best?” Shaunda adds. “We are very collaborative and give a little more control to our clients –which makes it harder on us – we want our clients to love it.”

Finally, she reminds clients, it’s supposed to be fun .

“Design can be very stressful – a lot of to-dos and decision-making. We are a lot of fun, easy to work with, and we have a good time. I like to consider us lights in the project that keep the hope going during the process,” Shaunda says. “We believe God has had His hand on this from the very beginning and our team is composed of visionaries who hold the vision and breathe life into each client’s project.”

Project videos can be seen on ShaundaSpell.com Learn more about Mill Agent & Design Company at MillAgent.com

The "I Did It" List

ARTICLE

BY MELISSA BALLARD, CFP® | PHOTOGRAPHY BY BEN FINCH

Have you ever gotten to the end of a busy (normal!) day without marking anything off your list and thought, “did I actually accomplish anything?” It’s so deflating.

One day, when I felt particularly overwhelmed, I wrote down what I had done, even though the items felt small and weren’t on my actual to-do list. Things like “responded to all new emails” or “checked in with a grieving friend.” Then I put a checkmark next to them, as if to reinforce to myself that I had done them. It seemed silly, but I felt a weight lift. It’s like my brain needed written confirmation that I really was productive. After realizing how much relief it provided, I continued writing things down that popped up and I accomplished, just so I could check them off. It still felt a little silly, but it worked for me, so I kept it up.

Some time later, I came across an article in the Wall Street Journal titled “The Productivity Boost Missing From Your To-Do List.” It turns out I’m not so weird after all (isn’t it nice to have that reminder sometimes?). The article explains that writing down what we’ve accomplished gives us a confidence boost. We all like the feeling of progress, and little wins give us the energy to accomplish more.

This idea translates to our home, work, and financial lives. We see this in our clients and in ourselves all the time. It’s easy to fixate on what we haven’t done -- the money we haven’t saved, the life insurance we still

need, the estate documents we haven’t started. Those things still need to be done, but in our financial lives, just like every other area of our lives, we gain momentum if we give ourselves credit for what we have done. Those little wins, like deciding to fly coach, the coupon code we remembered to use, putting off a car upgrade for another year, or the amount we are saving in our 401(k) (even if we meant to increase it this year) are still worth noting. The idea isn’t to give ourselves an excuse for not doing what we need to do, but instead to remind ourselves of all we are doing and letting that give us the energy to tackle the next thing. No one likes to feel defeated, and feeling defeated impairs progress.

For the area of your life in which you feel behind, jot down what you have done—no matter how small—in addition to the things you still want to do. And remember, just like my realization that I’m not so weird after all, you’re not alone. Having someone to remind you of that and cheer you on, whether a financial advisor or trusted friend, can make a huge difference.

PYA Waltman Capital, LLC (“PYAW”) is an investment adviser registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Registration does not imply a certain level of skill or training. More information about PYAW’s investment advisory services can be found in its Form ADV Part 2, which is available upon request.  PYA-24-10

"The idea isn’t to give ourselves an excuse for not doing what we need to do, but instead to remind ourselves of all we are doing and letting that give us the energy to tackle the next thing.”

EBW SALON & SPA

ARTICLE BY WEST KNOXVILLE LIFESTYLE STAFF

PHOTOGRAPHY BY SOUTH MADE MARKETING

Mary Cate became a West Knoxville business owner after a full-time career as wife and mother.  “After my divorce in 1996, I looked around for a business I could buy,” the owner of EBW Salon & Spa says. “I hadn’t worked before except three years teaching. But my real skill sets were hospitality and entertaining – making people feel welcome and comfortable – and always special.”

Family Matters at One of the LongestServing Day Spas and Salons in Town

Caroline Noble, Stephanie Noble, founder Mary Cate, Stacy Mead

“Hospitality and taking care of people are our mother’s superpowers and this business gave her a chance to polish those skill sets beautifully and really shine.”

Mary bought the three-month-old business from its original owner, moved the business to its current location in 1998 and never looked back. Mary says, “My mother put her house up for collateral so I could buy it.”  No one in her family thought she would make it, but almost three decades later, it’s one of the longest-serving day spas and salons in Knoxville with a fiercely loyal clientele. “In fact,” Mary acknowledges, “in the State of Tennessee register, our spa’s massage license is #4.”

“I have just loved it. It’s like inviting people into my home. I do not do any of the services. It’s just coffee, tea or me,” she says, laughing.  As a staunch fan of the rare Southern art of ‘visiting,’ Mary adds, “I know our clients’ names, children, grandchildren, and life stories. They’re family to us. They know they will feel special every time they walk through our doors.”

Family matters at EBW Salon & Spa, known as European Body Works to many of its long-

time clientele. Mary’s daughters, Stephanie Noble and Stacy Mead, UT graduates like their mom, are preparing to take over as she approaches retirement.

Stephanie has worked for ten years as manager and is a driving force behind the spa’s expansion in skin care services – a passion of hers since age twelve, long before teen skincare was a multi-billion-dollar market. Her daughter, UT senior Caroline, works part-time on social media and marketing, and her younger daughter, a high school junior, will help out this summer. Stacy has brought IT management and administrative support, and recently added a more client-faced role. She looks forward to expanding her role once her three high school sons graduate.

“We are a true day spa,” Stacy explains. “A lot of spas have moved to a medi-spa, which is a really different atmosphere. You come to us for relaxing, pampering, and rejuvenating - not a medical experience.”

“Our clients are very loyal to our licensed massage therapists, estheticians, cosmetologists and nail technicians,” Stephanie adds. “As both a full-service salon and day spa, we can pamper the whole family from head to toe!”

“Many clients are regulars for haircut and color, European facials, massages, manis and pedis, or body treatments. For others, we are their special place for full day pampering packages. Husbands know they can’t go wrong purchasing a gift certificate for their wives.” Stacy adds.

With the addition of HydraFacial equipment to their skincare menu, Stephanie explains the spa offers multi-generation benefits of light therapy: blue light for teens with acne issues, red light therapy for older skin or pigmentation issues. Since 90% of skin care happens at home, they educate clients on easy daily routines “We carry IMAGE skin care, a clean clinical line that delivers incredible results at a great price point. We also carry Jane Iredale the Skincare Makeup, the OG of clean makeup.”

What changes might a new generation bring? “Stephanie and I look forward to focusing on education and staying at the forefront of industry trends.” says Stacy. “We would also love to introduce EBW to the many new Knoxville residents and start treating them like family, too!”

But most important is the continuity of the client-focused, relationship-based service Mary started in 1996. Her daughters know however often she visits the spa in retirement, they will be asked daily, How’s your mom?

Mary’s daughters, Stephanie Noble and Stacy Mead, UT graduates like their mom, are preparing to take over EBW (known as European Body Works to current clients) as she approaches retirement. Granddaughter Caroline also helps out her ‘Gigi.’

When their mother bought the business, her daughters admit they thought she was crazy, even coming from a family of entrepreneurs.  But caught up in their own lives of college graduations, marriages and births, they understood their mom was at a point in her life when she was ready to throw herself into something entirely new.

“Her endurance was formidable – 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. six days a week. She could have stopped with I gave it a shot, but this isn’t fun anymore.” But she didn’t and she never lost focus.

“Hospitality and taking care of people are our mother’s superpowers and this business gave her a chance to polish those skill sets

beautifully and really shine.” Stacy adds, “It’s a treat to hear how admired and loved she is. Our mother took such great care of us growing up. It’s incredibly gratifying to see how well she has now taken care of other people all these years.”

Both of Mary’s daughters acknowledge that in taking over the business, “They certainly are big shoes to fill.” But Stacy and Stephanie are excited to step into that challenge for new generations.  No doubt in open-toe sandals … to show off their EBW pedicures.

Learn more and book appointments, visit EuropeanBodyWorks.com or call (865) 693-0485.

Nail Specialist and Manicurist Marina Marchuk

Brunch Bliss in Knoxville

The Brass Pearl and Point B Offer One-of-a-Kind Experiences

Knoxville, with its charming downtown and lively atmosphere, has become a brunch enthusiast's mecca. Among the bounty of brunch spots, two have heightened the brunch experience: Brass Pearl and Point B.

Brass Pearl: Nestled in the heart of downtown Knoxville, on Market Square. The star of the show is their homemade Bloody Mary, a concoction boasting an astounding 24 ingredients. This isn't your average tomato and vodka mix – Brass Pearl takes it to the next level, creating a flavor explosion, and elevated the cocktail by stacking it with shrimp, candied bacon, olives and more.

What got us truly excited? Brass Pearl just launched their Mimosa tray. Picture this: a dazzling array of fresh fruits, juices, and premium sparkling wines laid out before you, allowing you to customize your Mimosa just the way you like it. But it doesn’t stop there, you can also get a Bloody Mary tray to build your own Bloody!

Out west?  The perfect brunch spot does exist.

Point B is the brunch destination you don’t want to miss, complete with an incredible outdoor patio.

What makes Point B stand out are its one-of-a-kind brunch boards. These beautifully curated boards showcase an array of brunch delights, from savory to sweet. Whether you're a fan of a hearty breakfast sandwich, fluffy pancakes, or breakfast tacos, there’s a board for that.

Point B also offers an iconic Mimosa board. Offering premium sparkling wine accompanied by an assortment of fresh juices. Create your own bubbly masterpiece and toast to a brunch well spent.

Of course, we can’t skip the brunch-goer’s favorite, Eggs Benedict. Point B's take on this classic dish is nothing short of legendary. Velvety hollandaise sauce, perfectly poached eggs, and a choice of delectable toppings make this a must-try for any brunch enthusiast.

Whether you're in the heart of downtown Knoxville or out west, Knoxville's brunch scene has something for everyone. With mouthwatering Bloody Marys, customizable Mimosas, and brunch boards that redefine the concept of indulgence, these spots are not just places to eat –they're experiences.

The Brass Pearl Bloody Mary

With mouthwatering Bloody Marys, customizable Mimosas, and brunch boards that redefine the concept of indulgence, these spots are not just places to eat – they’re experiences.

The Brass Pearl

Brass Pearl Crab Cake Benny

Point B Waffles

Point B Chicken Sandwich

Point B

The Brass Pearl

MAY 5TH

Biscuits & Bubbly

The Standard | 10:30 AM

Put on your jazziest attire and help honor Patricia Robledo with the Spirit of East Tennessee Award at the second annual Biscuits & Bubbly. Patricia Robledo is Knox County School’s first Latino community outreach specialist, a role in which she is working to increase engagement and improve communication with Spanish-speaking families and others who are not fluent in English. EastTNHistory.org

MAY 7TH

Concerts on the Square

Market Square | 7:00 PM

Concerts on the Square presented by Comcast will feature a variety of jazz music on Tuesdays in May, June, and September from 7-9 p.m. and a variety of music genres on the Third Thursdays in the months of May through September. KnoxvilleTN.gov

MAY 11TH

Southern Skies Music & Whiskey Festival

World's Fair Park | 12:00 PM

Curated by hometown favorites, The Dirty Guv’nahs, Southern Skies Music & Whiskey Festival is an authentically Knoxville celebration of music and community. The 2024 event will feature Americana legends Old Crow Medicine Show alongside The Dirty Guv’nahs, Maggie Rose, Amythyst Kiah, Grace Bowers & the Hodge Podge, and Wyatt Ellis. DogwoodArts.com

MAY 12TH

Old City Market

West Jackson Ave. in the Old City | 11:00 AM

The Old City Market transforms the historic Old City into a curated outdoor market showcasing artists, crafters, and creative makes. The 2nd Sunday of every month through December 10, 2024. OldCityMarket.org

MAY 18TH

Children’s Festival of Reading

World's Fair Park | 10:00 AM

Kick off a summer of reading with a full day of music and storytelling, arts, crafts, science exploration, food, and fun! Meet featured authors Alan Gratz, Cozbi Cabrera, Gale Galligan, Deb Pilutti, Antwan Eady and Ashlyn Anstee, along with costumed storybook characters from Paddington Bear, Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus, and Where the Wild Things Are. KnoxCountyLibrary.org/childrens-festival-of-reading

MAY 23RD

Lionel Richie with Earth Wind & Fire

Thompson-Boling Arena at Food City Center | 7:30 PM

Enjoy all the hits and Sing All Night Long with these two legends in music.

We Care for Your Skin

Receive the care you deserve in a friendly, welcoming environment with knowledgeable staff. Medical Services include treatment for skin cancer, acne, psoriasis, moles, rashes, eczema & more. We offer a variety of laser procedures including vein treatments, pigmented lesions, hair removal, micro-needling, skin tightening, CO2, and tattoo removal. Our goal is to help you achieve and maintain healthy skin. You will see only Board-Certified Dermatologists at each and every medical visit. We promise to schedule an appointment within 1-7 business days.

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