Jan2012Commerce

INSIDE: BAH Humbug recap pg. 76 + Monthly Economic Indicators pg. 78

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 72

BRONZE

Johnson University(865) 573-4517www.johnsonu.eduEducation & Training: Colleges

Management Solutions, LLC(865) 483-9959www.msllc.bizBusiness & Professional Services: Business Advisors, Coaches, & Consultants

ADP(913) 284-1777 Business & Professional Services: Human Resources

The ALS Association - Tennessee Chapter(865) 805-9750www.alstn.org Associations & Organizations

Ameriprise Financial - Keifer and Tilley(865) 690-6169www.ameripriseadvisors.com/gregory.a.tillery Financial Services

Archer Design & Marketing(865) 661-8862www.archerfest.comBusiness & Professional Services: Graphic Designers

Automated Imaging, Inc.(865) 249-6043www.automatedimaginginc.comOffice Equipment, Furniture, Supplies & Printing Services: Digital Copying, Printing, Faxing, Scanning Equipment

BNL Technical Services(865) 272-0250www.bnltech.comBusiness & Professional Services: Technical Services

Brown Bag Catering(865) 228-3283Event Planning, Catering, & Venues: Catering

Burke’s Outlet(865) 470-0766www.burkesoutlet.comShopping: Discount Stores

Cantrell’s Heat and Air(865) 687-2520www.cantrellsheatingandair.comBuilding & Grounds Maintenance: Air Conditioning, Heating, and Climate Control

Holbrook Peterson Smith PLLC(865) 523-2900www.hpestatelaw.comLegal Services:Attorneys

HTS(865) 539-0911 www.heltontransportation.landsta-ragent.com Transportation

J. S. Ridenour Properties, LLC(865) 938-1515 www.jsridenour.comReal Estate: Property Management

Jones of Knoxville(865) 661-1415 Construction & Contractors: Residential

KAMA (American Marketing Association, Knoxville Chapter)www.kama.org

Koko FitClub(865) 558-1236www.bearden.kokofitclub.comPersonal Services: Fitness & Well-being

Media Pros LLC(865) 247-6968www.myspace.com/mediaprosBusiness & Professional Services: Promotional Products

MedicOne Medical Response(865) 329-0004www.mediconeresponse.comHealthcare Providers & Services

Petro’s Chili & Chips - Knoxville Food Truck(423) 967-4700www.PetrosKnoxFT.comRestaurants - Eating & Drinking Places

Plumbers & Steamfitters Local 102 JATC(865) 525-6305Construction & Contractors: Plumbing

CONNECT With The

CHAMBER

Doug Lawyer @knoxoakridgeIVJennifer Evans @knoxevans

Kyle Touchstone @knoxecondevguyMark Field @field101

Michelle Kiely @mkiely1

facebook.com/KnoxvilleChamber

twitter.com/k_chamberCHAMBER STAFF

AT&T celebrated the grand opening of its new AT&T Experience store at 7041 Kingston Pike in December. Pictured from left to right are Danny Hastaba, Knoxville Chamber Ambassador; Alan Hill, AT&T; Knox County Mayor Tim Bur-chett; Jason Bingham, AT&T Store Manager; Senator Becky Duncan Massey; Tiekel Finnikin, AT&T; John Sharpe, AT&T; Noah Watson, AT&T Assistant Man-ager; and Mary Weaver, Knoxville Chamber Ambassador. T

OP

AC

HIE

VE

RS

Ridenour Realty(865) 938-5000www.ridenhourrealty.com Real Estate: Commercial

Ritchie Tractor Company LLC(865) 981-3199www.ritchietractor.comTransportation: Truck/Trailor Sales & Equipment

Senior Directory(865) 483-8606www.seniordirectory.comPublishing/Publications

Tennessee Riverboat Company (865) 525-7827tnriverboart.com Attractions & Tourism

The ALS Association Tennessee Chapter(865) 805-9750www.alstn.orgAssociations & Organizations

JILL GREEN LBMC Strategic Staffing of Knoxville, LLC

DANNY HASTABAWATE-TV

LANEY SHORTERKnoxville Tourism & Sports Corporation

JOANI LEEDS PostNet


Before Republic Plastics decided to move forward with another expansion of their operations at Knox County’s Forks of the River Industrial Park, an early phone call to the Knoxville Chamber’s Economic Development team turned out to be worth $45,000 to the organization.

“We don’t recruit businesses and then forget about them once they start operations,” Kyle Touchstone, the Chamber’s economic development project manager said. “We’re there with them all the way.”

As Republic eyes a sixth plant expan-sion and additional jobs for Knox County, they’ve come to know the Chamber as a great resource in the community, facilitating discussions between private businesses and a number of agencies, all working to ensure the expansion goes smoothly.

The City of Knoxville and Knox County gov-ernments contract with the Knoxville Chamber to recruit new businesses, and just as impor-tantly, to make sure it can help keep existing businesses like Republic Plastics thriving.

“The Chamber is always looking for different methods to raise awareness of the programs our business retention and expansion efforts provide,” said Doug Lawyer, the Chamber’s vice president of economic development.

That means ever-evolving efforts working with state and federal agencies to keep up with what local businesses need in terms of support and then communicating with Knox County businesses about those resources.

“We reach out to these groups and pull people in to help,” Lawyer said.

In the case of Republic Plastics, the Cham-ber’s team was able to help the polystyrene manufacturer land $45,000 in state training grants. Lawyer’s team at the Chamber listened to what Republic needed. They then put Republic’s manage-ment team in touch with the right people and facilitated the paperwork to make it happen. Soon after, the Tennessee Department of Economic Development delivered the grant money.

A L O O K I N S I D E : The Knoxville Chamber’s Business Retention & Expansion Efforts

The guidance through the process from the Chamber didn’t cost Republic Plastics a dime but the grant meant new Republic employees who were added

during the expansion learned more about the company’s manufacturing processes and safety procedures than they might have without it. The grant money also helped cover airfare for situations where the training was not available locally.

For other businesses considering an expan-sion, many similar resources are available; it’s just a matter of the organization touching base with the Chamber and its partners, such as Pellissippi State Community College.

“It could be something like a local business services firm that realized its employees need to upgrade their accounting knowledge in order to help the company remain competi-tive and keep their jobs,” Teri Brahams, the executive director of economic and workforce development for Pellissippi State Community

College said.In some cases, businesses have even

approached the Knoxville Chamber and Pellissippi State with a prospective project they’d like to land. In at least one example, Pellissippi offered additional training that directly helped a local busi-ness expand.

“A local manufacturer needed assis-tance in developing standards for weld-ing to meet a prospective contract they were pursuing. Once the standard was adopted, we trained personnel and test-ed them to the standard so the company could prove they could do the work. The company was awarded the contract as a result of this effort,” Brahams said.

Despite the success stories, one of the largest challenges for the Chamber’s business retention and expansion team is getting local business leaders to open up about what they need to stay successful in East Tennessee. Despite phone

See “RETENTION” on pg. 74

With help from the Chamber’s business retention and expansion team, Re-public Plastics is thriving in Knox County’s Forks of the River Industrial Park

“RETENTION” continued from pg. 73


calls, online surveys, and awareness blitzes with economic development volunteers knocking on businesses’ doors, many organizations aren’t aware of what re-sources are out there to help.

Those meetings can help shape the Chamber’s priorities and often, lead to policy changes at the city and county or state level. For example, if Touchstone hears from an employer that is having difficulty finding employees with a certain skill-set, he then takes that information back to the Chamber’s workforce and education staff, so they can work with an organization like Pellis-sippi State to determine the feasibility of additional programming.

The Chamber is leading a charge to call on Knox County’s fifty-largest employers. Cumula-tively, those businesses provide jobs to about 54,000 East Tennesseans. Their goal is to get face time with the top officer of the company in an attempt to get a frank assessment of what the business needs.

“I grew up in a small business, I know how important help can be to a small and medium sized business,” Touchstone said.

Often, the things put in place to keep current businesses thriving can have a big impact on luring more potential industry to Knoxville.

“We offer the classes at the company’s location after work so it is convenient for the employ-ees. Another example would include a customer service center that needed to train its em-ployees to speak and understand other languages as the company grew its business globally,” Brahams said.

As for Republic Plastics, it is in the process of planning yet another expansion at the second facility.

“When everybody else was in a recession, we worked harder,” said Terry Kirksey, operations manager at Republic Plastics. “It’s a wonderful business. We’ve been blessed.”

Republic manufactures affordable tableware for national chains such as Kroger, Dollar Gen-eral, and Family Dollar. The past several years have been a boon to the business with intense nationwide demand. In fact, since Kirksey helped open the second Knox County manufacturing facility earlier this year, their production lines have never stopped.

As they considered that addition, the Knoxville Chamber’s economic development team has been kept in the loop, looking at permitting processes and tax considerations. Once completed, Republic’s expansion will blossom with much more production capacity and double the fifty employees currently working at the second Forks of the River manufacturing facility.

“Everything is going well, if we can get the machines in here we’ll have the second expansion before this building celebrates its first birthday,” Kirksey said.

It’s good news for Kirksey, who thanks to Republic’s expansion efforts was able to keep his family in the Knoxville area, and as the company continues to grow its Knoxville-area operations it’s good news for residents looking for a job.

“What’s great about our relationship with Republic Plastics is that they not only recognize the resources and information we can provide local businesses, but also they continue to come back to us for assistance. Knowing that we are helping a company through an expansion, which will in turn provide new jobs in this market, is very rewarding,” says Touchstone.

Since starting operations in early 2011, Republic Plastics’ second manufacturing facility is eyeing another expansion


LETTER TO THE BUSINESS COMMUNITYTENNESSEE REPORT CARD

ACHIEVEMENT RESULTS Percent Proficient and Advanced Knox County Statewide K-8 TCAP

Mathematics 48% 41%

Reading/Language 60% 54% High School

Math 59% 55%

Reading/Language 78% 69%

Composite ACT Results 2009 2010 2011

Knox County 21.8% 20.5% 20.4%

State Average 20.6% 19.6% 19.5% Graduation Rates 2009 2010 2011

Knox County Schools 81.4% 86.6% 86.6%

State Average 83.2% 86.1% 85.5%

VALUE ADDED- 3 YEAR AVG. Average Gain Knox County 2010 Knox County 2011 Status Mean Gain Status Mean Gain

Mathematics C -0.3% B 0.8%Reading/ Language C 0% C 0.1%

Social Studies B 1.2% B 1.5%

Science C 0% C -0.2%

Dear Knoxville Business Community,

Last week the Tennessee Department of Education released the State Report Card, which shows the academic performance and progress made by all of the public schools across the state. The Report Card provides high-level information about the state’s overall performance including individual schools’ graduation rates, Tennessee Comprehensive Achievement Program scores, end-of-course exams, and attendance.

Hopefully, you will recall that Tennessee made the right choice by raising aca-demic standards after discovering that it was woefully low in comparison to other states. We were telling our students that they were approximately 90 percent proficient or advanced, when compared to the national assessments they were only showing 25 percent proficient or advanced. There was clearly false advertising go-ing on, to the detriment of our students and our future workforce.

Currently, Tennessee Kindergarten through eighth graders are showing 41 percent proficiency or above in math and 54 percent in reading (Knox County K-8 performs at 48 percent and 60 percent respectively), while the national assessment shows Tennessee students at 24 percent and 27 percent proficiency. There is still a gap, but not nearly as wide. Now that we are reporting more accurate depictions of success, our challenge is to figure out how to elevate those numbers so that all students in Tennessee are college and career ready.

My job at the Knoxville Chamber is to ensure that we have a skilled and knowl-edgeable workforce to meet the needs of our existing and future businesses. When I look at the 2011 data, I wonder if we are meeting your needs and if not, will we get there quickly enough?

So I ask you, the business community, what are you seeing out there? Is your workforce performing to your expectations? What are your challenges in finding skilled and knowledgeable staff?

I really believe that recent reforms in education are moving us in the right direc-tion and that they will help improve student outcomes. But what will it take to move the needle so that our workforce can compete globally?

Sincerely

Jennifer EvansVice President of Workforce Development & EducationKnoxville [email protected]

The Chamber’s 6th annual holiday bash on December 8 was another hit with nearly 500 people attending at the Tennessee Theater. BAH Humbug, the Chamber’s holiday themed Business After Hours event, provides the community a fun kick-off to the holiday season and the chance to do some networking. This year’s party once again took place at the Tennessee Theatre and was presented by Comcast Business Class, with production assistance from All Occasions Party Rentals, Bandit Lites and Sound Ventures. All Occasion Catering was the catering sponsor. The Knoxville Photo Booth Company provided a festive photo booth for attendees to enjoy.

To see more from this BAH Humbug ‘11, head to the Chamber’s YouTube channel:

Monthly Economic Indicators (October 2011)

WORKFORCE

INFLATION RATES - CONSUMER PRICE INDEX (CPI) - ALL ITEMS

HOUSING MARKET

RESIDENTIAL BUILDING PERMITS

AIR SERVICE (MCGHEE-TYSON AIRPORT)SALES TAX REVENUE - STATE & LOCAL ($)

RETAIL SALES - NATIONAL (IN MILLIONS OF DOLLARS)

Notes - Knoxville MSA includes: Anderson, Blount, Knox, Loudon & Union Counties.


Resident Labor ForceKnox Co.Knoxville MSA TennesseeU.S.

Non-Ag EmploymentKnoxville MSATennessee

Available LaborKnox Co.Knoxville MSATennessee

Unemployment RatesKnox Co.Knoxville MSATennesseeU.S.

October 2011238,700374,350

3,125,600154,088,000

329,1002,667,900

17,78029,160

308,520

6.77.08.98.5

September 2011238,400373,700

3,130,000154,022,000

327,9002,655,800

20,16032,680

336,580

7.77.99.78.8

October 2010235,750370,090

3,077,400153,652,000

327,9002,643,400

18,53030,180

317,080

7.07.39.19.0

% ChangeSept. ’11-

Oct. ‘110.10.2

-0.10.0

0.40.5

-13.4-12.1-9.1

-1.0-0.9-0.8-0.3

% ChangeOct. ’10-Oct. ‘11

1.31.21.60.3

0.40.9

-4.2-3.5-2.8

-0.3-0.3-0.2-0.5

Sources: Tennessee Dept. of Labor & Workforce Development/U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Source: Knoxville Area Association of Realtors

Source: Metropolitan Knoxville Airport Authority

*Southeast Region Avg.U.S. Avg.

Oct. ’10-‘114.03.5

Sept. ’10-‘114.33.9

Oct. ’09-‘101.41.2


Oct. ‘11-0.3-0.4


2.62.3

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics *South – City Size Class B/C

Source: Tennessee Dept. of Revenue

Source: U.S. Census Bureau – Advance Monthly Retail Trade Report

State Sales TaxKnox Co.Knoxville MSATennessee

Local Sales TaxKnox Co.Knoxville MSA

October 201147,492,76066,964,693

570,026,876

12,876,64518,087,721

September 201148,282,16266,736,310

554,974,531

13,581,66718,798,525

October 201042,793,41660,027,476

536,923,389

12,007,58316,835,079


Oct. ‘11-1.70.32.7

-5.5-3.9


11.011.66.2

7.27.4

CategoryTotal Retail SalesBuilding MaterialsClothing StoresElectronics & AppliancesFood & Beverage StoresFood Svcs & Drinking PlacesFurniture & Home FurnishingsGasoline StationsGeneral Merchandise StoresHealth & Personal Care StoresMiscellaneous StoresMotor Vehicle & Parts SalesNon-store RetailersSporting Goods/Books/ Hobby/Music

October 2011386,13325,71818,1617,658

51,65042,0357,176

44,97051,14822,97810,58765,67931,793

6,580

September 2011381,852

24,88717,774

7,65250,46441,170

7,69145,33348,36622,46110,38767,33931,087

7,241

October 2010361,750

24,19617,4337,399

48,94539,9067,026

38,95449,58822,0239,922

61,42928,779

6,150


Oct. ‘111.13.32.20.12.42.1

-7.2-0.85.82.31.9

-2.52.3

-10.0


6.76.34.23.55.55.32.1

15.43.14.36.76.9

10.5

7.0

Residential ClosingsResidential InventoryMedian Residential Price

October 2011758

14,526$139,400

September 2011887

14,950$138,575

October 2010721

16,482$148,250


Oct. ‘11-17.0-2.90.6


5.1-13.5

-6.3

Knoxville (City)

Knox Co.

Knoxville MSA

Tennessee

TotalSingle-FamilyMulti-Family




October 2011*660

47470

64640

881797

84

October 201014140

76760

106106

0

817717100

% ChangeOct. ’10-Oct. ‘11-133.0-133.0

0.0

-61.7-61.7

0.0

-65.6-65.6

0.0

7.811.2

-19.0

*All 2011 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

PassengersCargo


8,145,247

August 2011154,731

8,137,960


8,122,811

% ChangeAug. ’11-Sept. ‘11

-1.60.1

% ChangeSept. ’10-Sept. ‘11

7.80.3


After supporting the Chamber with more than 2,000 volunteer-hours over the last year, the Knoxville Chamber Ambassadors recently thanked their bosses for giving them the opportunity to network and work more closely with the Chamber.

Ambassadors serve a number of roles with the Chamber, welcoming new members, providing valuable staff-support at over 80 events a year, and serv-ing as representatives of the business community. In return, Ambassadors learn great details about how the Chamber works and are often among the first to interact with new and expanding businesses in the community. Thirty-eight Knoxville-area businesses have at least one employee serving as an Ambassador.

“We are very lucky to have this group because they go above and beyond what we ask for,” Leslie Smith, the Chamber’s member mervices manager said.

Ambassadors’ Bosses Saluted at BreakfastLeslie Smith, the Knoxville Chamber’s Member Ser-vices Man-ager thanks the Chamber’s Ambassadors and their bosses at the recent reception

(L) James Clawson, Hunter Baddour, Chad Speck, and Amber Park of Allegiant Ath-letic Agency(R)Chad Speck addresses Pre-mier Partners inside the Knox-ville Chamber’s Market House

Local Sports Agent Headlines Premier Partner EventChad Speck, the president of Al-

legiant Athletic Agency, headlined the Chamber’s November Premier Partner event. His agency, located on Market Square, provides con-tract and marketing services to

professional football and basketball players, including the University of Tennessee’s Eric Berry and Albert Haynesworth, among many others.

“Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” is coming to town to give a deserving family a new home and shine a spotlight on Knoxville. Knoxville Chamber Board Member Christi Branscom and her company, Grace Construction, announced the hit ABC show selected Knoxville as its desti-nation for an upcoming show recently at a Market Square press conference. Grace Construction will serve as lead builder on the project.

“We could not be more excited about the visibility this project will bring to Knoxville,” Branscom said. “We will have the opportunity to showcase the true volunteer spirit for which our region is so well known.”

The show selects a deserving family each episode and totally remodels or rebuilds the family’s home. Host Ty Pennington will reveal the deserving Knoxville family on January 10 when he knocks on their front door and gives them the news.

To kick off the drive for volunteers and donations, Chamber member Home

Extreme Volunteers Needed!Federal Bank announced the start of the Family Build Fund with an initial donation of $20,000 to help the family. You can donate money to the fund at each of Home Federal Bank’s 23 locations.

It’s going to take hundreds of volunteers to pull off the project which means even East Tennesse-ans who have never picked up a hammer are being recruited to lend a hand. If you’re interested in helping give a deserving family a new home, please visit www.joinextreme.com/tennessee.

Additionally, Grace Construction is spearheading an “Extreme Volunteers” effort. T-shirts in an appro-priate shade of orange bearing a special volunteer logo are available for purchase with donations go-ing to the Family Build Fund. Long-sleeved t-shirts are $20 and short-sleeved shirts are $10. You can purchase the t-shirts at the Knoxville Chamber or by visiting the Grace Construction website at www.grace-info.com.

“Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” airs Friday nights at 8 p.m. on WATE-TV in Knoxville.

Christi Branscom announces Grace Construction will be the lead builder when “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” comes to Knoxville

PREMIER PARTNER PROFILE

Home Federal Bank of Tennessee


Home Federal Bank of Tennessee is a locally-owned, full-service bank serving East Tennesseans through branches in Knox, Anderson, Blount, and Sevier coun-ties. The bank was founded in 1924 on the enduring principle of service – service to its customers and service to its community.

Home Federal Bank is one of the area’s leading mortgage lenders and is classi-fied by bank regulators in the highest possible category for capital strength. Bauer Financial Inc., the banking industry’s leading independent bank rating firm, has awarded Home Federal its highest five-star rating for 78 consecutive quarters. Fewer than 10 percent of the nation’s banks earn this superior rating for financial strength.

As a hometown bank, Home Federal supports the community philanthropi-cally through significant financial contributions and volunteer labor. In 2010 alone, Home Federal made charitable contributions of more than $880,000. The bank has provided financial resources and volunteer labor to complete 21 Habitat for Humanity homes, more than any other organization in the community.

Home Federal’s philanthropic support also goes to educational initiatives, programs that support young people, the arts, health initiatives, the environment, feeding the hungry, and housing. Through its Hometown Heroes program, the bank recognizes leading community volunteers and makes contributions in their names to the volunteers’ charities of choice.

The bank is sponsor of Symphony on the Square, a free concert on Market Square by the Knoxville Symphony Chamber Orchestra, and in 2010 started the holiday tradition of sponsoring two free showings of “It’s a Wonderful Life” on the big screen at the historic Tennessee Theatre.

Home Federal Bank is headquartered in downtown Knoxville and operates branches throughout Knoxville, as well as in Farragut, Seymour, Sevierville, Pi-geon Forge, Gatlinburg, and Oak Ridge.

With more than 440 employees in four counties, Home Federal is a leading employer in our region.

Knoxville TSBDC Increases Resources for Small Business Growth

EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTHVice President of Finance & Administration Larry Johnson presents Membership Ser-vices Manager Leslie Smith with November’s Chamber Employee of the Month award

There are now more resources for small busi-nesses in East Tennessee. The Tennessee Small Business Development Center located in Knoxville is doubling its capacity to guide local business own-ers through strategic managerial decisions.

Larry Rossini, the director of the TSBDC in Knoxville, recently announced the center now has

four staff members certified to teach the Strategic Management Learning System. SMLS is a battery of 12 different educational modules ranging from financial basics to marketing principles, designed to help small busi-ness owners. They are offered to the business community for free through the TSBDC.

The move doubles the number of certified staff available to guide busi-nesses through the material and will allow flexibility and specialized atten-tion to meet businesses needs.

“We will use it one-on-one rather than in the classroom environment,” Rossini said. “It just works better for business owners not to be committed to a structured day and time.”

Business owners can attend the classes at the First Tennessee Re-source Center at the TSBDC’s Market Square office in the Chamber or have a business counselor meet with them at their company. While other training programs are available similar to SMLS, Rossini stressed the increased flexibility will be vital to helping the small business community. Many small business owners struggle to balance the demands of running a company with their desire to run the business rather than the business run them.

“What you can’t get from other training is a hands-on consultant who will work with you at your convenience,” Rossini said.

To learn more about SMLS, visit www.smlsonline.com or contact the Tennessee Small Business Development Center inside the Knoxville Cham-ber’s offices on Market Square at (865) 246-2663.

LEADERSHIP PROFILE

Michael Garfield Chief Executive Officer, Tennova Healthcare

As the son of a nurse and a doctor growing up in Bristol, it wasn’t long after earn-ing his undergraduate degree from Furman University, that Tennova CEO Michael Garfield turned his attention to health care, pursued a master’s in health administra-tion at Tulane, and ultimately wound up back in East Tennessee. Now, he’s closer to the mother and father that helped shape him personally and professionally.

“My dad ended up the latter part of his career running hospitals for the Public Health Service. I remember being in his office, wandering the halls with him and enjoyed that life,” Garfield said.

In October, Mercy Health Partners transitioned to become Tennova, under the umbrella of Health Management Associates, Inc. The transition provided Garfield the chance to leave his post as a regional operations executive at Community Health Systems in Nashville and move three hours closer to his mother and father.

Today, from his sixth floor office at the former Baptist Hospital of East Tennessee campus in South Knoxville, Garfield has taken the reigns of Tennova’s six Knoxville-area hospitals. The CEO is placing heavy emphasis on physician, employee, and patient relations. As part of building that framework, the management team recently wrapped up meeting with staff at all six hospitals and already have their top priority set: Serve as the top hospital in East Tennessee for patient care.

“Much like the foundation of building a house, strategic planning can’t happen before input,” Garfield said. “I think it’s a similar mission to what Mercy did in a lot of respects, but we are out to grow the market, make sure our physicians are equipped with the right equipment, and make sure our employees are engaged and focused on what they’re doing.”

Garfield stresses Tennova is in East Tennessee to stay and he’s looking to get more involved in the community himself, even encouraging his co-workers to support South Knoxville businesses impacted by the Henley Bridge closure.

A Tennessee Volunteers fan since the early 1970s, Garfield was no stranger to town before joining Tennova, and he says the transition to life back in East Tennes-see has been a good one. He and his wife live near downtown Knoxville and love the atmosphere.

As he continues to settle in, he’s hopeful another member of the family might also call the area home. Garfield’s daughter will soon be graduating from Marquette University and has the University of Tennessee on her short list of potential graduate schools.

“We’re very excited about being here, I’m very excited personally about this,” he said. “I think East Tennessee is very special and that’s because of its people. Very high family values and it didn’t hurt having the University of Tennessee here.”


For more from Michael Garfield describing his move to Tennova,

check out a video here:

The National Veteran Owned Business Association named the Knoxville Chamber among the nation’s most military friendly.

The Knoxville Chamber is one of 20 organizations across the country to receive the designation. The Chamber provides staffing to the East Ten-nessee Military Affairs Council, assists in hosting the annual Veterans Day luncheon, and offers a mentoring program that connects companies with startup business owned by veterans.

At a press conference at McGhee Tyson National Guard Base on December 1, Chamber Chairman Mitch Steenrod emphasized the impor-tance of this economic sector in East Tennessee, where military contracts and spending total more than $850 million.

Knoxville Chamber Recognized Among Nation’s Most “Military Friendly”

Knoxville Chamber Chairman of the Board Mitch Steenrod addresses supporters and the media at the McGhee Tyson Air National Guard Base.

UPCOMING EVENTS


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.

JANUARY 6Regional Legislative Agenda BreakfastNetworking/Breakfast 7:30 – 8 a.m.; Presentation of Agenda 8 a.m.Knoxville Marriott, 500 Hill Ave, SE$20 for members and non-members

Sponsored by:

JANUARY 10Social Media Series – Seminar #1“Nothing’s Changed, But Everything’s Different - Social Media in 2012”Presented by Jeremy Floyd, Bluegill Creative11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m., Knoxville Chamber, 17 Market Square$25 for members and $35 for non-members

JANUARY 11Reception Welcoming Mayor Rogero4 – 6 p.m., Knoxville Chamber, 17 Market Square

JANUARY 17Social Media Series – Seminar #2“How To Win Friends and Influence Customers with LinkedIn”Presented by Gavin Baker, Moxley Carmichael11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m., Knoxville Chamber, 17 Market Square$25 for members and $35 for non-members

JANUARY 19Exclusive Premier Partner Event with Dr. Tom Bogart, President of Maryville College7:30 – 8:30 a.m., Knoxville Chamber, 17 Market Square

Sponsored by:

JANUARY 19Business After Hours Hosted by Jewelry Television5 – 7 p.m., Jewelry Television Studios, 9600 Parkside Drive

Sponsored by:

JANUARY 24Social Media Series – Seminar #3“Social Media Success Stories”Presented by Laura Bower, The Tombras Group11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m., Knoxville Chamber, 17 Market Square$25 for members and $35 for non-members

JANUARY 31Social Media Series – Seminar #4“What Can Plus Add to Your Communications? - Using Google+ for Business”Presented by Shane Rhyne, Ackermann PR11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m., Knoxville Chamber, 17 Market Square$25 for members and $35 for non-member

SAVE THE DATE! Join the Knoxville Chamber

January 23 for a breakfast with Governor Bill Haslam. More details to come!

Jan2012Commerce

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Transcript of Jan2012Commerce