Ovation 2012: Excellence in Professional Services

Liz Engel Clark
Friday, Jul 6, 2012

Honoring professionals who serve us well, from accountants and lawyers to plumbers and HVAC shops.

Maffett-Loftis Engineering LLC
Putnam County, engineering and consulting services

Diversity is often a key to business success. At least that’s the case at Maffett-Loftis.

Maffett Engineering - started by mechanical engineer Brian Maffett – was incorporated in 2004, and just two years later, in 2006, Gary Loftis joined the team as a partner. Maffett-Loftis Engineering LLC was incorporated in 2008, and things have been “running strong ever since,” said Loftis, an electrical engineer.

The firm is focused on consistency and high-quality work, he said. Unlike some competitors, there’s no singular focus on educational, health care or religious facilities – Maffett-Loftis can handle all three – and more.

“The economy seems like it’s turning around, but we have always been diversified in what we can do,” Loftis said. “We have the expertise to jump from a nursing home project to a school or to a marina, because we’ve trained ourselves and know the codes and what needs to be done. With our diversity we can keep on moving.”

Maffett-Loftis, in fact, is handling some bigger-name projects this year, including a $3.7 million marina upgrade at Harrison Bay State Park, located outside Chattanooga. There’s also local partnerships with TTU and Putnam County Schools.

“We are going after bigger projects, we’re doing more work and forming more design-build contractor relationships,” Loftis said. “Brian and I are able to bounce ideas off of each other, and being able to have that type of relationship makes for a really good working environment.

“We take pride in the quality of work,” he added. “Our product looks like it’s just pieces of paper, but it’s not. We provide a service, and that service we provide, we want it to be as quality as it can be, and I think we’ve achieved that.”

231 E. Broad St., Suite 102, Cookeville
(931) 526-5143

Wimberly Lawson Wright Daves & Jones PLLC
Putnam County, law firm

For an employer, navigating and keeping up with so many legislative agendas can often be a daunting task. But that’s why a firm like Wimberly Lawson Wright Daves & Jones PLLC does what it does.

Wimberly Lawson, founded in 1948, first opened its Cookeville office in 1995; there are currently five attorneys on staff. Since the beginning, the focus has been exclusively on labor and employment. It’s one of the very few firms in the region that represents management exclusively.

Are there questions about the amendments to the Americans with Disabilities Act, FMLA, the Family Medical Leave Act, or even your business’ Facebook and social media policy? Wimberly Lawson helps clients deal with such issues every day.

“With so many changes in the federal laws it is absolutely vital that employers know the law, train their supervisors on what the law says, and make sure they get proper counsel – before and when they’re in a jam,” said Wimberly Lawson attorney and managing member Jeff Jones. “We put on seminars. We do training for clients. We publish articles in the Knoxville Bar Journal and (UCBJ). We just try to bridge that information gap, because it is a lot to handle. That’s why we do what we do.”

1420 Neal St., Suite 201, Cookeville
(931) 372-9123

Tier 1 Orthopedic and Neurosurgical Institute
Putnam County, medical office

For 35 years, Tier 1 Orthopedics – formerly Upper Cumberland Orthopedic Surgery – has been committed to preventing, assessing, treating and rehabilitating musculoskeletal (aka bone and muscle) injuries for patients in the Upper Cumberland.

“Our goal is to return patients to normal function as quickly and safely as possible,” said David Netherton, office manager at Tier 1 Orthopedics. “By combining extensive clinical expertise with compassionate, caring treatment, we have created a program known for its quality of care.”

As the primary provider of orthopedic services to Cookeville Regional Medical Center, their dedication to serving patients has helped CRMC win numerous orthopedic HealthGrades awards, including No. 1 in Tennessee for Overall Orthopedic Services.

Most recently, they have joined with a physiatrist and the area’s best neurosurgery practice to form Tier 1 Orthopedic and Neurosurgical Institute so that they can offer patients a more comprehensive range of services in a new, state-of-the-art, one-stop facility that is the first of its kind in the region.

“Now area residents seeking these types of services can find award-winning care in a convenient location close to home, with no referrals required,” Netherton said.

105 S. Willow Ave., Suite 100, Cookeville
(931) 526-9518

Tennessee Heart
Putnam County, medical office

Tennessee Heart got its start in 1994 when Drs. Alex Case and Bunker Stout completed their cardiology fellowships and decided to bring their services to the Upper Cumberland, where they grew up. The practice, known then as Upper Cumberland Cardiology Consultants, grew rapidly; the name changed to Tennessee Heart in 2005.

The practice continues to grow, and additional cardiologists have been added to meet patient demands. When its newest physician, Mariano Battaglia, joins the team in August, Tennessee Heart will include six invasive cardiologists, three interventional cardiologists and one electrophysiologist.

Tennessee Heart is a very busy practice seeing approximately 250 patients each day. While doctors strive to see patients on an as-needed basis, they are currently limited by space. A planned renovation, however, will allow for an additional 50-100 patients to be seen a day. The Cardiac Imaging Center is relocating to the first floor. The new department with expanded capabilities will open in August. The second floor will also be renovated and nine exam rooms will be added. That’s scheduled to be completed by the end of the year.

In the next five to 10 years, Tennessee Heart will continue to grow and add cardiologists to meet the needs of the area. The goal, Timothy Fournet, M.D., chief manager, said, is to recruit an additional interventional and invasive cardiologist by the end of 2013 for a total of 12 cardiologists.

“The physicians of Tennessee Heart are honored to be able to provide services to the residents of the Upper Cumberland and will continue to strive to maintain the highest quality of health care,” Fournet said.

“The cardiologists and staff are always here to help each patient achieve their healthiest outcome possible,” said Donna McSpadden, CEO. “Our team works to be the best and appreciates so much the recognition by our patients and the community support.”

228 W. Fourth St., Cookeville
(931) 372-0405

Cumberland Medical Center Wellness Complex
Cumberland County, health club

Cumberland County may boost some of the world’s best golf courses, but there’s also another anomaly in town, a rarity for a community its size.

The Cumberland Medical Center Wellness Complexes, located in Crossville and Fairfield Glade, not only provide open-to-the-public workout space, with fitness equipment and classes, but there’s a slew of available medical services, too, from phase 3 cardiac rehabilitation, diabetes education, nutrition counseling and certified personal training.

The Crossville complex, opened first in 1997, was originally meant for CMC hospital employees and families, but due to its “overwhelming popularity,” DD Barnwell, program manager, said, it was opened to the community.

“It’s just grown and grown since then,” she said. “And because of the success of the one in town, we were able open Fairfield (in) 2003. It’s been going full steam ever since, and both are very successful facilities.”

One way to measure success is through visitor volume. In the 2011-12 fiscal year, updated through May, there’s been a total of 91,369 visits at the Crossville complex. In that same time period, 119,979 visits have been recorded in Fairfield Glade.

It’s unusual for such a rural county to have to two like complexes, Barnwell said.

“I think everyone is becoming more educated in the fact that health and wellness need to be a big priority in their life,” Barnwell said. “That’s one reason for our success, because that’s what we promote. People want an easy fix, but with health care costs, the way to go is wellness.”

130 Woodmere Mall, Crossville
(931) 456-8870