Archives

January 2007

Walling’s Foglight Foodhouse a culinary oasis

CBJ Admin
Wednesday, Jan 3, 2007
Stuffed. And I don’t just mean the mushrooms. Stuffed is the way we felt on leaving the Foglight Foodhouse, Edward Philpot’s “eclectic Southern gourmet” restaurant at 275 Powerhouse Road in Walling.It’s one of those places you definitely have to know where you are going to get there, but it’s oh-so worth it when you arrive. Being a dinner-only establishment, my son, Ben, and I pulled into the spacious parking lot after dark, intrigued by the archit... click here to read more

Oreck Corp. moves an estimated 400 more jobs to Cookeville

Bobbie Maynard
Wednesday, Jan 3, 2007
After bringing in 100-plus new jobs to Putnam County last fall, Oreck Corp. announced in mid-December that it would phase out its Mississippi manufacturing plant and move 400 more jobs to Cookeville – making the Cookeville plant the company’s sole manufacturing facility.“By the time we get done moving, we should have between 400-500 manufacturing jobs and 100-150 call center jobs in Cookeville,” said Tom Oreck, president and CEO of Oreck. “We’re sc... click here to read more

Region’s top 25 employers report stable work force

Bobbie Maynard
Wednesday, Jan 3, 2007
Looking at a roundup of this past year’s top employers, manufacturing and service-related jobs are almost split evenly, which correlates with similar statistics from 2005. Of the UC’s top employers, none reported plans of layoffs or downsizing. In fact, the majority reported “stable” work force numbers with some companies announcing plans for hiring more employees.To give a better perspective on the UC’s top employers, the CBJ reviewed and confirmed data... click here to read more

BizBuzz: Crossville’s water capacity expanded

CBJ Admin
Wednesday, Jan 3, 2007
CROSSVILLE - During recent maintenance of the Meadow Park Lake Dam, some unexpected things came to light. The dam was built in the 1930s to help with the area’s iron water problem and was also intended to make Cumberland County and the surrounding area more self-sufficient.Engineers from Environmental & Civil Engineering Services (ECE Services) were called to handle renovations. In examining the findings of initial studies and facing the possibility of a future water shorta... click here to read more

CBJ unveils new website

Bobbie Maynard
Wednesday, Jan 3, 2007
Celebrating its second anniversary, the CBJ is kicking off 2007 with a new Web site designed specifically for reader interaction – www.ucbjournal.com. The Web site, which launched on Jan. 2, showcases a diverse group of features, including full-length news articles, analyses and business highlights updated on a regular basis, a ReaderSpeak forum for feedback, event calendars, polls, and pertinent information on contacting or advertisi... click here to read more

Cannon County’s Cumberland Molded Products continues to expand

Claudia Johnson
Monday, Jan 1, 2007
With operations in three states, a Cannon County industry is fast becoming a solution provider in engineering, program management, injection molding and assembly of plastic components. Cumberland Molded Products (CMP) in Cannon County, the first of the Cumberland Network companies to be formed, began in 1998 as a telecommunications supplier. However, about 70 percent of its business is now automotive. As a Tier II supplier, CMP produces parts to Tier I suppliers, who in turn serve customers ... click here to read more

U.C. losing ArvinMeritor engineering team

Claudia Johnson
Monday, Jan 1, 2007
The Upper Cumberland is losing a group of engineers this month due to a "rationalization" effort recently implemented by ArvinMeritor Inc. "The plan is to physically move engineering groups such as ours to central locations," explained Chip Beaulieu, one of a five-member team that was until Dec. 31, 2006, located in Cookeville and supported ArvinMeritor's design engineering teams across the globe, including North America, South America, Europe, India and Australia. "We have not lost our jobs... click here to read more

Executive Profile: Bob Allen

Claudia Johnson
Monday, Jan 1, 2007
"Where there is no vision, the people perish." Bob Allen didn't say it first, but he's kept Proverbs 29:18 close to his heart during his years in the corporate world, and the verse has kept him focused. "I'm looking at where we're going," he said of his current business, PrePak Systems Inc. "I look at the future and say, 'Now how do we get there?'" Growing up in Sheffield, Ala., he could never have envisioned how an unusual double major in accounting and chemistry at Auburn U... click here to read more

2006 - A synopsis of the events and issues of the past year

Bobbie Maynard
Monday, Jan 1, 2007
As managers and employees across the region gear up for a new year, the CBJ takes a look at the highlights, losses and issues of 2006 that will continue to play a role in the U.C.'s economic development for 2007. Highlights & Losses The year 2006 appears to have been the season for expansions from existing companies. Flowers Bakery and CoLinx in Crossville, Automation Tool Co. and Averitt Express in Cookeville and SW Manufac... click here to read more

Vintage marina renovated, expanded, ready for visitors

CBJ Admin
Monday, Jan 1, 2007
Q: Hurricane Marina s a great tourist draw, but how can the marina serve the Upper Cumberland's businesses? ALAN: More and more businesses have discovered what a great recreational opportunity exists for their employees on the lake. Examples of our service to the business community includes: 1) Day charter houseboat trips operated by Mark O'Neil and his wife (Cruise Center Hill). Mark caters to business groups of 10-50 persons to give them a relaxing day on the lake with eve... click here to read more

Local artists initiate effort to revitalize downtown Sparta

Bobbie Maynard
Monday, Jan 1, 2007
Expanding your business and moving locations is never an easy task. Throw in motivations for community development, and you've got your work cut out for you. But one artistic couple in Sparta is up to the challenge. When Thor and Cherri McNeil moved from Knoxville to Sparta seven years ago, it was the culmination of many years of hard work and determination to have their home, studio and pottery business all in one location. "Right out of college, my first experience in the art busin... click here to read more

McMinnville’s River Park Hospital purchases surgery center

CBJ Admin
Monday, Jan 1, 2007
River Park Hospital and parent company Capella Healthcare recently announced the purchase of Middle Tennessee Surgery Center in McMinnville. The purchase follows Capella's acquisition of River Park last year and is the most recent in a series of measures taken to ensure improved medical care to the citizens of Warren County and its neighbors. Financial terms were not disclosed. "This was an opportunity for River Park to make real, tangible improvements to its medical offerings in this area,"... click here to read more

Viewpoint: Winter tourism in the U.C.: the stage is set

Kaycee Harris
Monday, Jan 1, 2007
In the Upper Cumberland, tourism is an elaborate and sometimes delicate production. With tourists spending over $290 million in 2005, some may even call it a blockbuster. In this four act play, our outdoor recreation and scenic beauty often steal the show with wildflowers in spring, plenty of cool water in the heat of the summer and breathtaking foliage in the fall. With nine state parks, numerous natural areas, Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area, and three lakes, our natural beau... click here to read more

Morrison machine shop distinguishes itself with background of partners

Claudia Johnson
Monday, Jan 1, 2007
Machine shops abound in the Upper Cumberland. According to the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development, there are 27 businesses specializing in tool and die scattered across the region, employing a total of 255 people. The total wages paid by these shops hovers around $2.5 million annually. Another $4.1 million in payroll goes to approximately 391 employees in the U.C.'s 36 metal-working machine shops. Gerald Johnson, a partner in Master Tool and Machine LLC in Morrison, said... click here to read more

Store Opening Solutions locates in Morrison’s former Carrier plant

Bobbie Maynard
Monday, Jan 1, 2007
After suffering a dramatic job slump with the closure of Carrier Corp. in Morrison, things are beginning to turn around for Warren County workers. Store Opening Solutions, which supports in-store development needs, has leased an initial 100,000 square feet of space in the former Carrier plant with plans underway to employ an estimated 100 as the company's operations ramp up. "Our plans are to eventually fill the warehouse, hopefully by summer, but we should have half occupied by March 2007,"... click here to read more

CHC Mechanical receives second safety award

CBJ Admin
Monday, Jan 1, 2007
Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development Commissioner James Neeley announced that CHC Mechanical Contractors of Cookeville was chosen to receive the Governor's Award for Excellence for Workplace Safety and Health for the second consecutive year. "Our industry possesses significant safety challenges, and to be the only mechanical contractor in the state to receive the Governor's Award is a true testament to the dedication and safety awareness of our staff," commented Garry Floe... click here to read more

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