Dec2011Commerce

CONNECT With The

CHAMBER

EDITOR LORI FULLER [email protected]

DESIGN LADDY FIELDS

WRITER ANTHONY WELSCH

CONTACT THE KNOXVILLE CHAMBER(865) 637-4550 www.knoxvillechamber.com

PRESIDENT & CEO MICHAEL EDWARDS

EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT RHONDA RICE

ECONOMIC [email protected]

FINANCE & [email protected]

[email protected]

WORKFORCE & [email protected]

CENTRAL BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT (865) 246-2654 [email protected]

THE DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION (865) 546-5887

TENNESSEE SMALL BUSINESSDEVELOPMENT CENTER (865) 246-2663

LEADERSHIP KNOXVILLE(865) 523-9137

U.S. DEPT. OF COMMERCE EXPORT ASSISTANCE CENTER (865) 545-4637

NEW MEMBERS / NEW PREMIER PARTNERS

MEMBERSHIP MATTERS

RIBBON CUTTINGSTop 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.

THE KNOXVILLE CHAMBER’S MONTHLY NEWSLETTER

KNOXVILLE CHAMBER 44

BRONZE

Bernstein, Stair & McAdams LLP(865) 546-8030www.bsmlaw.comLegal Services: Attorneys

Hodges, Doughty & Carson, PLLC(865) 292-2307www.hdclaw.comLegal Services: Attorneys

18 Karat Model and Talent Management(865) 558-0004www.18karat.comEvent Planning, Catering, & Venues:Talent Agencies

A & E Medical Supplies(865) 313-0282www.ae-med.comHealthcare Providers & Services

Ace Transmission & Automotive Center(865) 524-0011 www.acetransmissionandauto.comAutomotive Sales, Parts, & Service

Automaxx - Collision & Automotive Repair Center(865) 330-7600www.automaxxnow.comAutomotive Sales, Parts, & Service: Repair & Service

Brent Trentham & Associates, Ameriprise Financial Services, INC.(865) 588-4484www.ameripriseadvisors.com/ brent.l.trentham/profile/Financial Services: Planning

Carrier CPA Firm, PLLC(865) 687-6391www.carriercpa.comBusiness & Professional Services: Certified Public Accountants

Clayton Inspection Service Inc.(865) 693-7109www.jacnspx.comBusiness & Professional Services

Clinton Bedding Company(865) 463-8330www.clintonbedding.comShopping: Furniture

Cohen Communications Group(865) 659-4750www.cohencommunicationsgroup.comAssociations & Organizations

Communication Technologies(865) 938-7364www.commtechtn.comTelecommunications

ComputerWorks(865) 688-3122www.cworksonline.comComputer & IT Services

Corn Maze & Pumpkin Patch at Oakes Farm(865) 688-6200www.oakesfarm.comFlorists, Nurseries &Garden Centers

D1 Sports Training & Therapy of Knoxville(865) 622-7117www.d1sportstraining.comSports & Recreation: Sports Training

East Tennessee Physician’s Care(865) 525-2121 Healthcare Providers & Services: Chiropractors

Environmental Standards, Inc.(865) 376-7590www.envstd.com/index.htmlEnvironmental Services & Equipment: Consultants

Hantak Home Improvement(865) 824-2822www.hantaktn.comConstruction & Contractors: Roofing

Knoxville Seniors Guide(865) 898-8060 Business & Professional Services: Advertising

Mike Baker Insurance Consulting(865) 399-0518Insurance

Doug Lawyer @knoxoakridgeIVJennifer Evans @knoxevans

Kyle Touchstone @knoxecondevguyMark Field @field101

Michelle Kiely @mkiely1

facebook.com/KnoxvilleChamber

twitter.com/k_chamberCHAMBER STAFF

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IEV

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S JANA DAVISONHumana

RENA AMERSONTillman Companies, LLC

DANIEL MONDAYSlamdot, Inc.

Nationwide Insurance - Myra West Agency(865) 851-9664Insurance

Nori Noodle & Sushi Bar(865) 765-0316www.noriknoxville.comRestaurants - Eating & Drinking Places

Oakes Daylilies (865) 687-3770www.oakesdaylilies.comFlorists, Nurseries & Garden Centers

OnePartner(423) 863-8708www.onepartner.comComputer & IT Services

Paul Mitchell The School - Knoxville(865) 966-0400www.knoxville.paulmitchell.edu/knoxville-tnPersonal Services: Salons & Spas

Quality Roofing Service, Inc.(865) 309-7441www.qualityroofingservice.comConstruction & Contractors: Roofing

Rooftop Construction - Residential & Commercial(865) 313-0275www.rooftopconstruction.comConstruction & Contractors: Roofing

Tennessee Beverage, LLC(865) 607-7430www.onetenhydrade.comFood & Beverage

The Knoxville Photo Booth Company(865) 603-4900www.knoxvillephotoboothcompany.comPhotography

The Listening Center(865) 357-7111www.tlcknoxville.comEducation & Training

Turkey Creek Tinting(865) 288-7150www.turkeycreektinting.comAutomotive Sales, Parts, & Service

The Casual Pint celebrated the grand opening of its new Knoxville location in November. Nathan Robinette, President, is pictured center cutting the ribbon and is joined by associates, family members, friends, and Knoxville Chamber Ambassadors.

The University of Phoenix celebrated the grand opening of its new Knoxville location in November. Mark Amrein, campus director, is pictured center, flanked by Mayor Burchett (left-center) and Rhonda Rice of the Knoxville Chamber (right-center). University executives and employees, friends, and Knoxville Chamber Ambassadors are pictured as well.


LETTER FROM THE CHAIR

XXPHOTO

During the 2010-11 fiscal year, the Knoxville Chamber launched new products and services, aggressively advocated for pro-business policies, pursued new businesses, and helped existing businesses grow – it’s been a great year.

In 2009, the board of directors cast a vision for transforming the organization into one that aggressively delivers member benefits and vigorously represents the business community. We are actively pursuing the goal of making Knoxville America’s Best Business Address® by implementing a detailed strategic plan. The plan allows the staff and board to closely monitor progress and measure the effectiveness of Chamber initiatives.

Two new initiatives launched this year are Chamber Member MD® and iKnowKnoxville.com. The one-of-a-kind business analysis tool allows companies to identify strengths and weaknesses and includes an individualized prescription to address areas of concern. The Chamber’s online, interactive directory allows members to better market their products and services to other businesses, residents, and visitors. Its use has grown dramatically throughout the year.

In August, the American Chamber of Commerce Executives named the Knoxville Chamber the 2011 Chamber of the Year. This award is recognition of our ability to innovate. However, this isn’t an end. Winning the Chamber of the Year award validates the work we have done and will inspire the Chamber’s fantastic staff to push harder.

The Knoxville Chamber is also Chamber of the Year because of its outstanding members. Companies from across the region – both large and small – are com-mitted to making Knoxville a thriving business community and are committed to supporting this organization.

I hope you are proud of your investment in the Knoxville Chamber. The organization, the board of directors, and I are serious about helping you grow your busi-ness. Please take full advantage of all the Chamber’s member benefits and call on us to help whenever we can.

Sincerely,

Mitch SteenrodChairman, Board of Directors


PRESENTEDBY:

• The Knoxville Chamber received a Four-Star Accreditation from the US Chamber of Com-merce. This was the first time the Chamber applied for accreditation and receiving this high grade is a testament to the effort of the staff, board, and volunteers.

• Chamber Member MD® was launched to member and non-member businesses in the region. The business analysis tool helps to identify a company’s strengths and weak-nesses and provides an individualized plan for making each business stronger. No other chamber in the country has a similar product or service.

• iKnowKnoxille.com was introduced to the Knoxville marketplace. The interactive, online business directory allows Chamber members to have detailed listings, post coupons, and include multimedia functions. Visits to the website have increased steadily throughout the year.

• The Knoxville Chamber nominated eleven businesses for the US Chamber DREAM BIG Small Business Award and ten applied. For the second year the Knoxville area had several companies recognized, including: a Regional Finalist for DREAM BIG Small Busi-ness of the Year Award, Prestige Cleaners; Blue Ribbon Small Business Award winners, ES&H, Inc., Hedstrom Design LLC, Partners Development, and Prestige Cleaners, Inc.; Free Enterprise Honorees, Analysis and Mea-surement Services Corporation, Knowledge Launch, and Knoxville Comprehensive Breast Center.

• The Chamber continued to produce many outstanding events including the Pinnacle Business Awards and Schmoozapoloza. In addition, it increased the number of legisla-tive- and government-related events including a breakfast with Governor Haslam and lunch with Senator Corker.

• The Chamber neared the completion and deployment of the Education Management Information System (EMIS) it has been de-veloping with Knox County Schools. This re-source allows teachers to track the progress of each student and administrators the ability to create accurate budgets.

• The Chamber amplified the voice of the business community on many government and policy issues. It continues to be one of the leading voices on education and is influencing other legislative items in Nash-ville. The organization led the effort to delay, reconsider, and amend the Metropolitan Planning Commission proposed Hillside and Ridgetop Protection Plan.

• Through the Chamber’s economic develop-ment program, Innovation Valley®, marketing our region continued at an aggressive pace that included twenty-three outbound missions for face-to-face interaction with site selec-tion consultants and corporate real estate executives.

• Existing businesses were supported through 242 on-site meetings as part of the Chamber’s Technology Mining and Match-ing and Business Retention and Expansion efforts.

• The Chamber’s PROPEL Program that supports small, woman, veteran, and minority-owned business development efforts had 172 companies that participated in business visioning sessions.

• The Chamber remained engaged in raising awareness on the importance of STEM (sci-ence, technology, engineering and mathemat-ics) in our region’s workforce.

• The Chamber led the Educators in the Workplace Program, which allowed 102 re-gional educators to visit area businesses and experience how classroom skills are applied in the workplace.

HIGHLIGHTED ACCOMPLISHMENTS


YEAR-END REPORT CARD


BECOME THE LEADING MARKET IN THE SOUTHEAST FOR NEW BUSINESS RECRUITMENT• During the year, new businesses had a capital investment of $59,650,000 and an-nounced 183 new jobs in the Innovation Valley region.

• Investments by existing businesses totaled $174,233,492, and those companies added 2,026 new jobs.

• In an effort to promote Innovation Valley assets to potential new businesses in tar-geted industries, economic development professionals attended 17 trade shows and events including Center for Auto Research, CoreNet, IEDC, TEICC, Jones Lange LaSalle, Renewable Energy World, Roundtable for Site Consultants, TEDC, TN Next Conference, and SEDC Meet the Consultants.

• Meetings were held in DC with EPA, as well as with local environmental engineer-ing firms to discuss regional air quality issues. During the year the Knoxville region reached attainment for ozone quality. This designation will make the permitting pro-cess easier for expanding companies.

• Chamber launched and completed an airfare survey of members. In total over 80 companies responded and the staff continues to work with the East Tennesseans for Airline Competition to attract new airlines and retain those currently servicing TYS.

BECOME THE LEADING PLACE TO START AND GROW A BUSINESS IN THE SOUTHEAST• Produced 72 member-driven events, a 22 percent increase. More than 8,300 busi-nesspeople registered for those events, a 28 percent increase over total registrants during the prior fiscal year.

• Launched Social Media for Business Seminar, a four-part professional development series focused on utilizing social media as a marketing tool for business. The popular series attracted over 300 registrants.

• Averaged 39 registrants and a 4.70 overall satisfaction rating for Bright Ideas events, a monthly educational seminar series. Ratings are based on a five-point scale where five is the highest level of satisfaction.

• Celebrated the seventh annual Pinnacle Business Awards with nearly 600 busi-nesspeople in attendance and introduced an online nomination, application, and judg-ing process using Bluegill Creative’s Show of Hands software. The 2011 winners were Covenant Health; TracLok; Sword & Shield Security Enterprises, LLC; Pershing, Yoakley & Associates; Oak Ridge National Laboratory; HME, Inc.; Mahasti Vafaie of The Tomato Head; Brian Winter of Pyxl, Inc.; and Jim Clayton.

• Experienced more than 73,000 views on iKnoxKnoxville.com promo pages between Nov. 10 and June 30. These pages contain detailed information about Chamber member businesses including location, hours of operation, specials and coupons, and contact information. Many members use the sites multimedia features, such as video posting, to attract customers.

• Managed 25 mentor/protégé partnerships, which allow small, minority-, and women-owned businesses to benefit from the advice and experience of established compa-nies.

• Saw a steady increase in the number of participants downloading Chamber Mem-ber MD® content.

• The U.S. Small Business Administration presented the Tennessee Minority Small Business Champion of the Year award to Doug Minter for his hard work on the Propel program.

BECOME THE NATIONAL LEADER IN SKILLED AND EDUCATED WORKFORCE• Helped to create more than 75 business-education partnerships including partici-pants in the Knox County Schools Tech Plan, the Big Read, and the Virtual Enterprise Business Plan competition.

• Supported the new Knox County Schools STEM Academy, which was supported through Race to the Top funding.

• Served on the steering committee and as judges for the inaugural Smoky Mountain FIRST Robotics Competition, which was held in Knoxville. Founded by Dean Kamen, inventor and entrepreneur, the competition inspires young people to be science and technology leaders, by engaging them in exciting mentor-based programs that build science, engineering, and technology skills.

• Formed an advisory panel and applied to compete in the Talent Dividend Initiative for a $1 million prize awarded to the region that produces the most college grads over the next five years.

• Assisted Vols4STEM place 500 math and science teachers in area science, technology, engineering, and math companies for an April in-service training, which allowed educators to better understand how professionals apply the concepts they teach.

• Worked with the Knoxville Area Employment Consortium’s Business Advisory Coun-cil to increase participation in Disability Mentoring Day from 9 companies in 2009 to 23 in 2010.

• Mike Edwards, president & CEO, was appointed to Tennessee Board of Education.

YEAR-END REPORT CARD continued


BECOME THE REGION’S MOST EFFECTIVE VOICE FOR BUSINESS• Energized the Chamber’s government relations committee, which resulted in a more engaged committee and membership during the state legislative session and regard-ing the local issues of importance to the business community.

• Provided a reasoned justification for approving the proposed Midway Business Park and managed a strong grassroots campaign to share the message and combat misperceptions of area residents.

• Contributed to the defeat of a bill in the General Assembly to allow the election of local school superintendents. Supported tenure reform and teacher evaluation efforts and helped lobby for tort reform.

• Held the first legislative reception hosted by the Big 4 Chambers of Commerce. This group of major metropolitan chambers speak forcefully for the business interests in Tennessee major cities. The reception was an opportunity to reinforce the group’s identity to state leaders.

• Helped a total of 298 new members join the Chamber and experienced an 84 percent rate of members renewing their memberships.

• The American Chamber of Commerce Executives recognized Ashleigh Adkins as the ninth ranked sales executive in the country and she received the Gold Circle of Champions Lifetime Achievement Award for helping 1,000 members join during her eight years with the Knoxville Chamber.

• Submitted the extensive application for the American Chamber of Commerce Executives Chamber of the Year award. It included the review of new products and services, member benefits, economic development activities, and business practices. After the end of the 2010-2011 fiscal year, the Knoxville Chamber was selected as the 2011 Chamber of the Year in the largest category.

ESTABLISH THE INFRASTRUCTURE AND SUPPORT NECESSARY TO ACHIEVE STATUS AS AMERICA’S BEST BUSINESS ADDRESS®

• The Chamber ended the 2010-11 fiscal year with net income from continuing operations before depreciation expense of $30,839.

• Designed and implemented a new Knoxville Chamber brand. The logo emphasizes the unique geographical location of Knoxville and pays tribute to the business and research assets of the region.

• Partnered with Workspace Interiors to develop a conference room into the Collabo-ratory. This unique space is organized to encourage users to creatively interact and includes a multiport computer system and web conferencing capabilities.

• The Chamber developed an app to allow mobile device users to quickly access infor-mation about the organization, register for events, and search the iKnowKnoxville.com interactive membership directory.

Clayton Homes, Inc.Covenant HealthElavonFirst TennesseeKnoxville Utilities BoardKNS Media GroupPilot Flying JRegions BankTennessee Valley AuthorityTennova HealthcareUniversity Health System, Inc.The University of Tennessee

AT&TBB&TComcastDenark Construction, Inc.Home Federal Bank of TennesseeSunTrust Bank, East TennesseeTeamHealth

21st Mortgage CorporationAqua-Chem, Inc.B&W Technical Services Y-12 L.L.C.Belk, Inc. - West Town MallCellular Sales of Knoxville, Inc.East Tennessee Children’s HospitalEdfinancial ServicesEnergySolutionsGerdauJewelry TelevisionK-VA-T Food Stores, Inc.Lawler-Wood, LLCORNL Federal Credit UnionPepsi Beverages CompanyPhillips & Jordan, Inc.Pinnacle Financial PartnersSummit Medical Group, PLLCUT-BATTELLE, LLC/ORNLUtilities Management Federation, Inc.WSI Oak Ridge

Alcoa, Inc.ADT Security ServicesAlcoa, Inc.All Occasion Catering, LLCAlliance Sotheby’s International Realty

Alstom PowerBarge, Waggoner, Sumner & Cannon, Inc.Blaine Construction CorporationBush Brothers & CompanyCapital Financial Group, LLCCherokee Distributing Co., Inc.Coldwell Banker Wallace & Wallace - Bearden HillCorporate Quarters, Inc.Elite Corporate Suites, Inc.Emerson Process ManagementEngert Plumbing & Heating, Inc. - Mechanical ContractorsExedy America CorporationFirst Utility District of Knox CountyFluorGreen Mountain Coffee RoastersThe H. T. Hackney CompanyHolston Gases, Inc.HumanaIT eXpertiseJohnson & Galyon, Inc.Kramer Rayson LLPMercedes Benz of KnoxvilleMesser Construction CompanyMetropolitan Knoxville Airport AuthorityNAI Knoxville Commercial Real EstateOrthoTennesseeRadio Systems CorporationRegal Entertainment GroupReily Foods Co.The Relocation Division for Realty ExecutivesRentenbach Engineering CompanyRogers Group, Inc.Rufus H. Smith, Jr. & Co., IncScripps NetworksSouth CollegeStowers Machinery CorporationTIS Insurance Services, Inc.U.S. CellularU.S. Department of Energy, Oak Ridge OfficeUCORUniversity of Phoenix - Knoxville CampusUSEC Inc.Vulcan Materials CompanyWal-Mart Store #2065WBIR-TVWhite Realty and Service CorporationWillisWood Properties, Inc.Yale Locks & Hardware

AAA East TennesseeAckermann PRA-D TechnologiesAGC Flat Glass North AmericaAllegiant Athletic AgencyAON - Risk ServicesApplewood Farmhouse RestaurantArby’s Roast Beef RestaurantARG Financial StaffingBacon & Company, Inc.

Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz, PCBankEastBarberMcMurry ArchitectsBass, Berry & Sims, PLCBechtel Jacobs CompanyBelew Drug, Inc.Bernstein, Stair & McAdams LLPBertelkamp Automation, Inc.Blackberry FarmBlueCross BlueShield of TennesseeBPV Wealth ManagementBrent Trentham & Associates, Ameriprise Financial Services, INC.Brogan Financial, Inc.Brownlee PropertiesBSA LifeStructures, Inc.Cannon & Cannon, Inc.CapitalMark Bank & TrustChampion Roofing & SidingCommercial & Investment PropertiesConnor Concepts, Inc.Consolidated Products, IncorporatedCooper Realty Investments, Inc.Copper Cellar Family of RestaurantsCoulter & Justus, P.C.Crowe Horwath LLPDealers Warehouse CorporationDelta-21 Resources, Inc.Design Innovations Architects, Inc.The Dow Chemical CompanyEgerton, McAfee, Armistead & Davis, P.C.Elder AdvocatesVan Elkins & Associates, CPAsEnterprise Rent-A-CarEPRIES&H, Inc.Furrow Auction CompanyGallaher & Associates, Inc.Great West Casualty CompanyGulf & Ohio RailwaysHallsdale Powell Utility DistrictHampton Inn & Suites - Downtown KnoxvilleHodges, Doughty & Carson, PLLCIFS Group, LLCIgawaga, Inc.Image Matters, Inc.Inter-Agency Insurance Service, Inc.Kimberly-Clark CorporationKnology of KnoxvilleKnoxville Area Association of RealtorsKnoxville Marriott HotelKnoxville Tourism & Sports CorporationLamar Outdoor AdvertisingLBMC, P.C.The Legacy Centre for Family Business and EntrepreneurshipLeibowitz Law Firm, PLLCLewis, King, Krieg & Waldrop, P.C.Lincoln Memorial UniversityLouisville Tile DistributorsLunchbox Event CateringLuxottica Optical Manufacturing N.A.Martin & Company, Inc.McKibbon Hotel ManagementMelaleuca

Merit Construction, Inc.Moore Freight Service, Inc.Morgan KeeganMorris Creative Group, LLCMoxley CarmichaelNES RentalsNorth Cedar Hospitality, LLCNorthwestern Mutual Financial NetworkNyrstar Tennessee MinesOdom Construction Systems, Inc.Office DepotPaper SolutionsThe Park Vista a DoubleTree by HiltonParker Business Consulting & Accounting, PCPartners DevelopmentPellissippi State Community CollegePershing Yoakley & Associates, P.C.PME CommunicationsPremier Surgical Associates, PLLC-Corporate OfficePrestige Cleaners, Inc.Pro2Serve Professional Project Services, Inc.Provision Health AlliancePugh & Company, P.C.J. S. Ridenour Construction, Inc.RIVR Media, LLCRodefer Moss & Company, PLLCRowe TransferScarecrow Foundation, Inc.Schaad CompaniesSecureWatchShoney’s of Knoxville, Inc.StaffingSolutions/Employbridge CompaniesThe Stokely CompanyStollerStudio Four Design, Inc.Sustainable Future, LLCSword & Shield Enterprise Security, Inc.Synergy Business EnvironmentsSysco Knoxville, LLCTalbots Customer Service CenterTarget MarketingTennessee National Private Golf & Residential CommunityThermocopy of Tennessee, Inc.Threds, Inc.Tindell’s, Inc.Titanic Museum AttractionToyota/Lexus of KnoxvilleTriton Stone Group of KnoxvilleThe Trust CompanyTurkey Creek Land PartnersUBS Financial Services, Inc.The University of Tennessee Athletic DepartmentVolcue, LLCThe Wakefield CorporationWal-Mart Store #1318Wal-Mart Store #1319Wal-Mart Store #1320Waste Connections of Tennessee, Inc.Wells Fargo Insurance Services of Tennessee, Inc.Woolf, McClane, Bright, Allen & Carpenter, PLLCXpress Paper & Chemical, LLC

PREMIER PARTNERS


AS OF NOVEMBER 1, 2011

local STEM companies. The competition is centered on robots picking up and hanging inflatable shapes on poles. Winning teams from the regional advance to the world competition at the Edward Jones Dome in St. Louis.

Seven Knoxville-area high schools will be participating in the competition: Farragut, Hardin Val-ley, Gibbs, L&N STEM Academy, Oak Ridge, Webb, and Catholic.

If you are interested in more information about supporting the event or volun-teering, please contact LJ Robinson at [email protected]


The Knoxville Chamber is accepting applications for its third class in the Propel Mentor/Protégé Pro-gram which is designed to help “propel” area small businesses to success.

Propel aligns large established firms from the Knoxville Chamber’s Premier Partner membership with small businesses in the Innovation Valley area to foster economic development. To date, the program is credited with creating 50 new jobs in East Tennessee and fostering $21 million in direct economic impact.

“I think it has exceeded expectations,” Doug Minter, the Knoxville Cham-ber’s Business Development Manager said. “It’s difficult, it’s not easy. This is real business.”

There is space for about ten new protégés and mentors in the 2012 class. Minter, who manages the program, wants to especially encourage minority-led and rural-based firms to apply.

“When we look at the disparity of jobs, we see the highest unemployment rates in the urban minority communities as well as our rural areas. However, some of the best innovation in the history of business has come from minori-ties and rural businesses,” Minter said.

Protégés and mentors are expected to spend about two hours each

month with one another discussing a set objective that the small business has identified as an area they hope to improve. The protégés also attend Strategic Management Learning System classes once per month.

“It’s basically a MBA crash course, covering issues like marketing and cash flow,” Minter said.

While protégés receive world-class guidance, mentors also rave about the program. It’s a chance for many of them to relive their days as a growing orga-nization and get back to focusing on the roots of what made their own business successful in the first place.

“Business to business mentoring is the purest, most altruistic form of mentor-ing you can have. It creates new economic development,” Minter said. “Here, we’re actually adding new economic development. If we can take a company and they can mentor a small company and they grow, that creates new money and that’s economic development.”

If you’re a Premier Partner of the Knoxville Chamber and would like to be a mentor or if you’re interested in applying to be a protégé, please contact Doug Minter at the Knoxville Chamber at [email protected] or (865) 246-2662.

Applications are also available on the “Propel” page of the Knoxville Cham-ber’s website.

This spring will mark the second year Knoxville’s Conven-tion Center hosts a FIRST Robotics regional competition, bringing hundreds of bright, young, technical minds to town. With dozens of teams expected, it also takes a mas-sive volunteer effort to help coordinate everything that goes into the four-day competition.

FIRST is an acronym that means For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology. The non-profit inspires high school students to pursue careers in science and technology by elevating the fields with sports-like competitions. Competition coordinators are looking for volunteers to help with everything from inspecting robots prior to the competition to announcing.

Last year marked the first year Knoxville hosted the competition and 46 teams competed. Each team receives financial and intellectual assistance from

Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey is on a mission to identify and eliminate red tape. The goal is to eliminate hassles that Tennessee businesses deal with everyday – hassles that keep them from completing projects and creating jobs.

From permitting delays to inconsistent enforcement, Ramsey is soliciting stories from Tennesseans and will turn those problems into legislative solutions. Ramsey and his staff are already drafting legislation to address workers’ com-pensation and unemployment issues.

He recently spoke to a group of nearly 50 businesspeople at the Knoxville Chamber about the effort and heard several stories about their problems. Busi-nesspeople are also encouraged to visit www.tnredtape.com and share their issues.

Volunteers needed for robotics competition

Mentor/Protégé Program Accepting Applications

Ramsey Brings Red Tape Tour to Knoxville

PREMIER PARTNER PROFILE


Bryan College Welcomes Business Community to West Knoxville Campus

Bryan College wel-comed the business com-munity to its new West Knoxville campus at Seven Oaks Shopping Center on November 10. Attendees had the chance to network in Bryan College’s state-of-the-art facility while en-joying breakfast prepared by catering sponsor All Occasion Catering.Door Prizes were awarded to the following individuals at the event:

Bryan College flash drives, courtesy of Bryan College:

Viren Lalka, Lalka Tax Services, LLC

Dan Rawls, BNI $50 Giftcard to Out-

back Steakhouse, cour-tesy of Bryan College:

Leon Spencer, Media-blox

EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTHDirector of Membership Development Michelle Kiely presents Vice President of Finance & Administration Larry Johnson with October’s Chamber Employee of the Month award

TOP: David Montgomery of Bryan College welcomes a.m. Exchange attendeesBOTTOM: Chamber Ambassador Daniel Monday (left) greets Rob Nilmeier of BMC (right)

GerdauGerdau is the leader in long steel production in the Americas and one of

the largest suppliers of special steels in the world. In May 2011, the com-pany marked its 110th anniversary, celebrating with its 45,000 employees, in their respective countries, a successful track record focused on the quality of its products and services and the excellence of its management processes.

Gerdau’s history began in 1901 as a small nail factory in Porto Alegre, Brazil, called Pontas de Paris. Today, the company has industrial opera-tions in 14 countries in the Americas, Europe, and Asia, with an installed capacity exceeding 25 million metric tons of steel per year. Gerdau is also the largest recycler in Latin America, and it transforms millions of tons of scrap into steel around the world every year.

In 1994, Gerdau took over operations of the Knoxville steel mill that has been in the Lonsdale community for more than 109 years under various names and owners.

Gerdau is one of the largest steel recyclers in Tennessee. In 2010 it shipped a record-breaking 523,000 tons of recycled steel. Additionally, the mill recycled over 97 percent of its 76,211 tons of byproducts and waste materials in 2010. The mill is recycling steel from downtown’s Henley Street bridge refurbishment and will supply recycled steel as the bridge is rebuilt.

In 2011, Gerdau’s Knoxville mill again earned the ISO 14001 certifica-tion, an international distinction that recognizes the mill’s environmental management system. The mill first pursued and achieved the voluntary certification in 2007.

Gerdau is located on 1919 Tennessee Avenue. It employs 237 people; John Miller serves as division manager.

LEADERSHIP PROFILE


Knoxville Chamber, Innovation Valley named partners to Entrepreneurial Accelerator Project

The Knoxville Chamber and Innovation Valley are providing support to a new state initiative to assist start-ups get their busi-nesses up and running.

In November, Governor Bill Haslam and Tennessee’s Department of Economic Development announced $250,000 in grant funding for nine entrepreneurial accelerators across the state. The accelerators will be established to provide mentoring, education, strategic and technical support, and help entrepreneurs identify sources of capital.

“The Regional Entrepreneurial Accelerators will be an incredible asset throughout Tennessee to help aspiring entrepreneurs launch and grow their businesses with expert mentoring and support,” Haslam said. “Start-up companies have the potential to be a significant source of job creation, and we want to give local entrepreneurs their best chances for success as we work to make Tennessee the No. 1 location in the Southeast for high quality jobs.”

East Tennessee’s entrepreneurial accelerator will be housed in the University of Tennessee’s Anderson Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation. The Knoxville Chamber and Innovation Valley will provide sup-port on the project.

The accelerators are expected to become a foundational component of the region’s economic development strategy. Multiple reviewers judged each application and assigned a score based on how effectively it responded to the program criteria. The grant funding is a combination of state and federal dollars and contingent upon each accelerator providing at minimum an additional $250,000 in local matching support.

Regional Legislative Agenda Breakfast Scheduled for January 6

Just after the holidays, Tennessee lawmakers will report back to Nashville on January 10 for the start of 2012’s legislative season. Before the elected officials go, the Knoxville, Blount, and Oak Ridge Chamber’s are hosting a morning breakfast to set this year’s Regional Legislative Agenda. Members and non-members are invited to attend the breakfast on January 6 at the Knoxville Marriott starting at 7:30 a.m.

Sponsored by:

James “JT” ThomeCellular Sales Chief Operating Officer

Through the open door to JT Thome’s office at Cellular Sales, it’s tough not to notice a map of the United States punctured by pushpins. Tiny red and white dots signify-ing hundreds of Verizon retail stores the Knoxville-based company has opened across

the country. With almost 200% growth over the past three years, it’s safe to say Cellular Sales is doing something right for its customers.

“We’re one of the fastest growing brick and mortar retail companies in the coun-try,” Thome, the Chief Operating Officer at Cellular Sales said. “We just opened up our first store in Oregon so we’re officially coast-to-coast as well.”

Thome just celebrated his one-year anniversary with Cellular Sales. Self-de-scribed as “an internet start-up guy”, Thome’s experience as an e-commerce execu-tive at companies like WebMD, Jewelry Television, and Textbooks.com contrasts with Cellular Sales’ incredible brick and mortar growth.

“I’m learning every day, and frankly that was one of the big attractions in coming to Cellular Sales,” the West Point graduate and Emory MBA said. “It’s funny, I’ve found most of what I’ve done with my career is absolutely applying here at Cellular Sales.”

Thome tackles three main areas for the privately owned company: protecting the current business by providing support to the sales staff in the field, finding new sources of revenue that benefit both the customer and the company, and looking for efficiencies as the company grows.

“Companies have to plan for this sort of growth, it doesn’t just happen,” he said. “There is a concerted effort while we are growing to not to lose the entrepreneurial culture of the organization,” he said. Thome attributes the company’s growth and success to Cellular Sales’ workforce at all levels.

Keeping a culture of growth remains a high priority. That means guidelines, but not rules, and staying flexible while trying to standardize where it makes sense. It’s a vibe Thome describes as entrepreneurial but with a “get it done” attitude.

For now, Cellular Sales keeps growing and the former military brat, thrilled to be back in Knoxville, is helping to lead the charge.

“My wife and I realized we feel like we can call Knoxville home,” the father of two said. “I finally feel like I’ve moved back home and it’s nice to feel settled.”

UPCOMING EVENTS

DECEMBER 8BAH Humbug – Holiday Party5 – 8 p.m., Tennessee Theatre Lobby, 640 South Gay Street

Presented by: Catering Sponsor:

ProductionAssistance:

DECEMBER 13New Member Reception4 – 6 p.m., Knoxville Chamber, 17 Market Square

JANUARY 6Regional Legislative Agenda Breakfast7:30 – 9 a.m., Knoxville Marriott, 500 Hill Ave. SE$20 for members and non-members


Go to “Chamber Events” on knoxvillechamber.com to learn more or registerfor any of these events. You may also call the events line, (865) 246-2622.

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Dec2011Commerce