Biz Buzz – July

Tuesday, Jul 6, 2010

Fox appointed to Tennessee Medical Association committee

COOKEVILLE – Dr. Eric Fox has recently been reappointed to serve on the Insurance Issues Committee of the Tennessee Medical Association for a two-year term. The Insurance Issues Committee monitors and addresses all insurance issues, both government and commercial, affecting physicians, practices and patients in Tennessee.

Fox is on staff at Cookeville Regional Medical Center and serves as clinical associate professor in the family medicine department at East Tennessee State University’s Quillen College of Medicine in Johnson City. He earned his medical degree from the University of Louisville School of Medicine in 1988.

Fox’s office is located at North Willow Family Medicine, 428 N. Willow Ave. in Cookeville. To contact North Willow Family Medicine, call 931-372-7788 or visit Cookeville Regional on the web at www.crmchealth.org.  

CHC Mechanical saluted for commitment to safety

COOKEVILLE – CHC Mechanical Contractors has been cited for its outstanding commitment to safety in the workplace by the Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA) through its Safety Masters Club.

“Safety is as important to our business as quality craftsmanship and outstanding customer service,” said Garry Floeter, president of CHC Mechanical. “Our safety program has proven time and again to provide positive outcomes in the field and throughout our industry with recognition like the ACCA Safety Masters Club.”

Floeter explained that CHC’s commitment to safety benefits the company’s clients on several levels. Mechanical construction projects are more likely to stay on target within their time frame, and CHC can keep its project costs competitive because of the favorable insurance rates provided to them for their safety efforts.

“The exclusive Safety Masters Club is open only those contracting companies with a formalized safety program and fewest number – if any – of workdays lost because of on-the-job injuries,” said Paul Stalknecht, president and CEO of the national non-profit trade association. “But with this achievement, CHC has demonstrated a commitment to its employees, as well as customers, that they will do all in their power to ensure a safe workplace through training and company policies. They are to be congratulated for this singular achievement.”

CHC Mechanical Contractors has been providing mechanical construction solutions throughout the Upper Cumberland Highlands, as well as Middle Tennessee and the Southeast, since 1969. Located at 347 E. Stevens St. in Cookeville, the company can be contacted at 931-528-5514, or online at www.CHCcompanies.com.  

Overton Chamber receives economic development award

LIVINGSTON – As a participating member of a May 2009 economic and community development initiative, the Livingston-Overton County Chamber of Commerce has received its share of a 2010 Innovator Award from the Southern Growth Policies Board, a public policy think tank based in North Carolina.

The initiative, managed by the Tennessee Center for Performance Excellence and Tennessee’s Three-Star Program, helps communities engage in an in-depth assessment process that identifies strengths and opportunities for improvement. The communities then use what they’ve learned to strengthen strategic plans and bolster economic development initiatives.

Livingston-Overton County is among the communities that have completed an assessment, benefiting from the partnership's initiative. In the process, Livingston-Overton County earned an Interest Level Award, presented by the Tennessee Center for Performance Excellence.

The Southern Growth Innovator Awards are presented annually to one organization in each of Southern Growth’s 13 member states in recognition of initiatives that are improving economic opportunities and quality of life in the region. The 2010 Innovator Awards were chosen from creative initiatives in the region that aim to help communities recover from the recession.  

TTU names Bates new dean of Library and Learning Assistance

COOKEVILLE – Tennessee Tech University has appointed Douglas Bates, university librarian at Brigham Young University - Hawaii, to the newly expanded role of dean of Library and Learning Assistance at Tennessee Tech University. His appointment is effective July 1.

Bates will lead a partnership involving staff members of the Angelo and Jennette Volpe Library and Media Center, all TTU learning assistance programs, the academic support function of Information Technology Services and the Technology Institute. Among his first items of business is to develop and implement a learning assistance commons on the first floor of the library.

Bates holds a doctorate in educational administration from Kansas State University in Manhattan, Kan., and a master of library and information science from Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah.

Bates comes to TTU with 23 years of experience working at university libraries in roles of increasing responsibility. He has served as university librarian at BYU-Hawaii since 2002, providing that library’s executive leadership, vision and direction, and managing all aspects of the library’s programs and services.   

Stone takes over operations at JWC Broadcasting

COOKEVILLE – JWC Broadcasting recently named Larry Stone, known for his work with Titans Radio, as general manager. Stone, who joined the company on May 3, had previously served as operations manager of two Nashville-based stations: 103 WKDF and 104.5 The Zone.

Stone said that his goals for the company involve three key strategies. First, he plans to make JWC a venue for family-friendly entertainment, both through music broadcasts and radio personalities. Second, he plans to deliver effective marketing to the station’s customers. His third goal involves community outreach. Stone plans to reach out more to local organizations, involve the company more actively in charity events, and improve coverage of local news and sports events.

Stone believes that Cookeville and the Upper Cumberland possess a sound media base already, and he wants to solidify the place of JWC Broadcasting within that pre-existing market.

JWC Broadcasting operates four radio stations: B-Rock 93.7, Kicks 106.9, Lite Rock 95.9 and Classic Country 1600 AM.  

Cookeville Regional implements tobacco-free campus

COOKEVILLE – Cookeville Regional Medical Center is now a tobacco-free campus. As of July 1, no tobacco use of any kind is permitted – inside or outside – on hospital property. This initiative also will include the elimination of designated areas outside Cookeville Regional where patients and visitors currently use tobacco products.

Tobacco is the cause of death for over 9,000 Tennesseans every year and is the root cause of many illnesses and lost productivity. Tobacco use in and around hospitals poses health and safety risks for patients, employees and visitors.

According to hospital officials, Cookeville Regional’s decision to go tobacco-free is not an attempt to “force” anyone to quit using tobacco products. Rather, the tobacco-free initiative is a concrete way the hospital can demonstrate its ongoing commitment to healthy living.  

TSBDC offers online classes for business owners

REGION – The Cookeville-TTU office of the Tennessee Small Business Development Center, in cooperation with the U.S. Small Business Administration, recently announced the opening of the TSBDC Online Center. The purpose of the online center is to provide Internet accessible small business seminars and online counseling as part of an ongoing effort to provide easier access to TSBDC services.

TSBDC online classes cover business basics, financing, managing a business, human resources, accounting and budgeting, and marketing and sales. Online classes are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

The Livingston-Overton County Chamber of Commerce has entered into agreements with TSBDC to provide space and scheduling, and can provide initial orientation to prospective TSBDC clients. In return, TSBDC will be providing a computer, webcam, and the necessary software to connect clients with the statewide Online Center.

The TSBDC Online Center can be accessed at www.tsbdc.org; individuals without Internet access may attend online classes and arrange for online counseling by visiting a TSBDC online access point at participating chambers of commerce.  

TVA expands economic development incentive program

REGION – The Tennessee Valley Authority recently announced the expansion of its Valley Investment Initiative, designed to offer financial incentives for qualifying new businesses that will attract new jobs and capital investments to the region. The Valley Investment Initiative is an innovative economic development program to recruit new businesses that make long-term commitments to regional job growth, economic development and efficient use of electric power.

The original Valley Investment Initiative, a joint effort between TVA and distributors of TVA power, is among the first of its kind in the nation. Based on proposals to existing companies across the TVA region, this program already has the potential to leverage investments of $2 billion by these companies.

The initiative was recently expanded to provide incentive awards based on several factors, including a company’s long-term investments, jobs, wages and compatibility of their energy efficiency improvements with the TVA power system. The expanded Valley Investment Initiative will replace past TVA incentives based primarily on businesses’ power usage.

Companies in targeted industry sectors with a minimum 250-kilowatt peak monthly power demand, at least 25 employees, no plans for major work force reductions, minimum capital investments over five years, and a standard power contract of sufficient length may qualify. The program includes strict reporting and verification processes to ensure that participating customers fulfill their commitments.

For more information about the Valley Investment Initiative, visit the program’s website at www.tvaed.com/vii.

Averitt to offer conservation incentives for associates

COOKEVILLE – Averitt Express recently announced the beginning of its “Ford F-150 4x4 Fuel Duel” program, an initiative aimed at offering incentives to its associates who follow fuel-efficient practices. As part of the program, Averitt will be giving away 20 $500 gas cards and one fully loaded 2010 Ford F-150 4x4 truck.

The program is open to all Averitt drivers. To be eligible, a team must make a collective improvement in its fuel economy between a six-month period this year versus the same time period last year. All drivers on a team that meets or exceeds the goal will be entered into a drawing for a chance to win either a gas card or the truck.

In order to make the goal, individual drivers will focus on various fuel-efficient practices, such as reducing truck idling, using smooth-shifting techniques, traveling at slower speeds, and maintaining proper tire pressure at all times.

The “Fuel Duel” program marks the second time Averitt has used incentives to encourage its associates to actively participate in resource conservation efforts. In 2008, Averitt’s “Smart Car for Smart Thinking” program helped the company challenge its associates to find creative ways to reduce their consumption of electricity, water, paper and fuel.

Averitt plans to announce the winner of the Ford F-150 4x4 truck sometime in December.  

Cookeville hotel receives guest satisfaction award

COOKEVILLE – The Fairfield Inn & Suites in Cookeville earned the Marriott International Guest Satisfaction Platinum Award for 2009, an honor given to hotels that earn the most outstanding guest feedback. In only its first year of operation, Cookeville’s newest Marriott hotel has earned stellar reviews from its guests, prompting Marriott to grant its coveted platinum guest satisfaction award. The new property also received the Marriott’s “Ensure a Restful Night’s Sleep,” “Make the Room Work” and “Intent to Recommend Highest Guest Satisfaction” awards.

The Cookeville Fairfield Inn & Suites, an 81-room hotel, earned an overall satisfaction score of 94.42 percent from its visitors. This marks its first foray into platinum status. The awards are based off of online surveys conducted by Marriott to gather guests' feedback from their visits. The Cookeville Fairfield Inn & Suites property, part of the Marriott International family of hotels, is owned by Cookeville Hotel Partners LLC and Jack and Johnny Stites of J&S Construction, and operated by M. Gibson Hotels Group, a hotel management and development company based in Knoxville.  

Farmers in U.C. eligible for USDA assistance

REGION – Congressman Bart Gordon recently announced the U.S. Department of Agriculture has made funding available to farmers in Jackson, Macon, Smith and Trousdale counties to repair farmland damaged by flooding in May.

Eligible farmers will be able to use the funding to remove debris, restore fences, grade and shape land and repair damage to conservation structures. Farmers may receive cost-share assistance of up to 75 percent of the cost to make these repairs. For farmers to be eligible for assistance, flooding must have done serious, costly damage to their land that impairs its productive capacity.

Farm operators are encouraged to contact the Trousdale County Farm Service Agency office at 615-374-2436 for more information about disaster assistance available through the USDA’s Emergency Conservation Program.  

Graham appointed as consumer products specialist

REGION – Sentry Insurance, a Mutual Insurance Company, recently announced the appointment of Mark Graham as its first consumer products specialist for the Upper Cumberland area. Graham joins Sentry Insurance with 25 years experience in the personal insurance industry. He has experience with auto, home, renters and life insurance, including annuity products.

His goal as a Consumer Products Specialist is to make sure that each client is properly protected with the right coverage for his or her individual needs. Sentry offers a variety of products that are unique in the industry, such as pet coverage and the doubling of the Automobile Medical Payments coverage when wearing a seatbelt.

For more information on Sentry Insurance, visit www.sentry.com. Graham may be reached by phone at 931-265-9669 or 877-472-9595.