Month: August 2009

Wilderness at the Smokies’ sister resort featured on popular Travel Channel show

Posted by Rick Laney – August 28, 2009

Indoor Waterpark SmallSevierville, Tenn. – The Travel Channel’s “Extreme Resorts” television show featured Wilderness at the Smokies’ sister resort, Wilderness Hotel & Golf Resort located in Wisconsin Dells, Wis., as one of the world’s eight most extreme resort properties.

Joe Eck, general manager at Wilderness Hotel & Golf Resort said to be included in the episode of Extreme Resorts, which started airing in mid-August, is a great honor.  In addition to Wilderness Hotel & Golf Resort in Wisconsin Dells, resorts from Malaysia, Switzerland, the Bahamas and United Arab Emirates were featured. 

“As America’s largest waterpark resort, we take great pride in constantly adding new fun attractions for our guests to enjoy – and it is wonderful when a program, such as Extreme Resorts, recognizes your efforts,” Eck said.

Like Wilderness at the Smokies, the Wilderness Hotel & Golf resort has a combination of guest rooms, suites, condominiums, golf, and both indoor and outdoor waterparks and water attractions.

Wilderness Hotel & Golf Resort opened in 1995 and is owned by the same group that opened Wilderness at the Smokies last year.  Wilderness at the Smokies is located just minutes from Interstate 40 and situated in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains.  It is part of Bridgemont, the 1,000-acre development that includes the Sevierville Events Center and the 18-hole Eagle’s Ridge championship golf course.

For more information about the resort or for reservations, visit www.wildernessatthesmokies.com or call 1-800-867-WILD (9453).

Media Contact
Rick Laney
(865) 584-0550
rlaney@ackermannpr.com

For Second Year, Oak Ridge Staffing Firm, RecruitWise Makes Inc. 5000 List

Posted by Amelia Daniels – August 27, 2009

RecruitWiseLogoOak Ridge, TN – Inc. magazine ranked RecruitWise No. 2738 on its third annual Inc. 5000, an exclusive ranking of the nation’s fastest-growing private companies.  The list represents the most comprehensive look at the most important segment of the economy – America’s independent-minded entrepreneurs.  The Oak Ridge-based company, RecruitWise, provides technology recruiting and staffing services in Tennessee. 

“We’re honored to be on this year’s list again,” says Glenn Zahn, RecruitWise founder and CEO.  Zahn admits he was surprised to have jumped more than 1200 spots from No. 4013, the rank his firm received last year.  “There’s a good possibility many of those companies either didn’t survive the recession or have leveled off.” 

Zahn credits the growth in 2008 to his staff’s flexibility.  “We didn’t stand still when the economy started to worsen,” says Zahn.  RecruitWise, a company that focused exclusively on IT placements, expanded its capabilities and worked with executive placements as well.  RecruitWise is similar to other companies on the Inc. 5000 list in that way.  According to Inc. magazine, despite the ongoing recession, aggregate revenue among the 5,000 featured companies actually increased to $214 billion, up $29 billion from last year, with a median three-year growth rate of 126 percent.

Inc5000 logoEven though unemployment has risen significantly in 2009, the need for the company’s services is on the rise, according to Zahn.  “One out of every ten people is unemployed in Tennessee, which means there’s an influx of candidates but fewer jobs.  It can be a nightmare for the average human resource department that gets flooded with unqualified applicants.” 

RecruitWise offers qualified candidates for its clients who need to find ‘the right fit.’  “When a company works with RecruitWise, there are no piles of resumes or unqualified online applicants to trudge through,” says Zahn.  “We qualify and guide our candidates through the hiring process; drastically cutting the total time and effort to hire.”

Complete results of the Inc. 5000, including company profiles and an interactive database that can be sorted by industry, region, and other criteria, can be found at www.Inc.com.  More information about RecruitWise can be found at www.RecruitWise.jobs. 

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Media Contact
Amelia Daniels
(865) 584-0550
adaniels@ackermannpr.com

About RecruitWise
RecruitWise provides information technology recruiting and staffing services.  RecruitWise not only survived the .com bubble burst in 2000 and 2001, the company experienced phenomenal growth during that time. RecruitWise has been on the Business TN Fast 50 list and was the first recruiting firm in the Southeast to earn the Accredited Firm credential from the National Association of Personnel Services.

Baseball, LLC buys Cherokee Athletic and Cherokee Baseball and Softball Academy in Maryville

Posted by Rick Laney – August 26, 2009

Maryville, Tenn. – Cherokee Athletic and Cherokee Baseball and Softball Academy have been sold to Baseball, LLC, a group of East Tennessee investors with big plans for the future of athletics in East Tennessee.  The sale will be finalized on Sept. 1, 2009.  Terms of the sale were not disclosed.

Cherokee Athletic and Cherokee Baseball and Softball Academy, located at 1410 Sevierville Rd. in Maryville, consist of a 4,500-square-foot retail shop and a 10,000-square-foot indoor training and instruction center with professional-quality baseball and softball batting cages.  Currently, the Cherokee Academy draws young athletes from all over East Tennessee to train at the Maryville facility.

Batting Cages“We have athletes who travel from Chattanooga, Crossville and the Bristol area to train here at Cherokee Baseball and Softball Academy,” said Doug Bochtler of Baseball, LLC.  Bochtler, who played Major League Baseball for San Diego, Detroit, Los Angeles and Kansas City now provides baseball training, conditioning and coaching for amateur athletes ages 8 to 18 and select professionals and college players at its Maryville facility. 

Bochtler said, “Cherokee is a state-of-the-art training operation with strength and conditioning, nutrition, video training, and one-on-one and team coaching from former college and professional players, coaches and scouts.”

First-Team All American and former University of Tennessee softball star Sarah Fekete-Bailey, who led the nation in hitting with a staggering .500 (110-of-220) batting average and earned a Gold Medal at the World University Games in Taiwan, leads the softball program at Cherokee Baseball and Softball Academy.  Fekete-Bailey, a Maryville native, completed her career as the all-time Tennessee leader in batting average, on-base percentage and stolen bases while finishing second in runs scored and hits.

Fekete-Bailey Small“There’s no other program in East Tennessee that rivals what we do here at Cherokee Academy,” Fekete-Bailey said.  “With the involvement of Baseball, LLC, we’ll have access to more resources and be able to do even more for the athletes we train.  It’s exciting to see how this will benefit Cherokee Athletic and Cherokee Baseball and Softball Academy and the athletes we serve.”

Baseball, LLC says the world-class instructing staff at Cherokee Baseball and Softball Academy will remain unchanged and only be enhanced to include a wider breadth of both baseball and softball training options.

In addition to the talented staff, Baseball, LLC representatives say they will focus attention on expanding the Cherokee Athletic Pro Shop, which carries equipment from Rawlings, Wilson, Under Armour, Louisville Slugger, and Nike among others for the youngest tee ball players to the most advanced and seasoned pro.  A full line of stock and custom uniforms is offered for all sports and Cherokee Athletic provides screen printing and custom embroidery.

Cherokee Athletic and Cherokee Baseball and Softball Academy have nine employees.  It is opened from 9 a.m. until 9 p.m. Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. until 6 p.m. on Saturday and noon to 6 p.m. on Sunday.  For more information, call (865) 681-6122.

Update:  Read the media’s recent coverage of this announcement at The Knoxville News Sentinel or The Daily Times.

Media Contact
Rick Laney
(865) 584-0550
rlaney@ackermannpr.com

Knoxville Chamber announces unique partnership with Cellular Sales Verizon Wireless

Posted by Rick Laney – August 20, 2009

Knoxville, Tenn.  – Today, the Knoxville Chamber and Cellular Sales announced a unique partnership that will provide Knoxville Chamber members with access to wireless technology and training. Together, the organizations will also work to grow regional businesses and ensure that the workforce is technologically advanced. In what the Chamber said was an unprecedented move, the Chamber announced that Cellular Sales will be the Knoxville Chamber’s “Official Wireless Provider.”

“This opportunity to work with such a reputable member of our business community is a benefit to us and to our members,” says Michelle Kiely, Chamber director of membership development. “The Chamber and its staff require reliable means of communication in and out of the office to maintain the highest level of customer support and service. This partnership affords the staff and Chamber members the opportunity to learn more about how mobile connectivity can make us all more productive.”

Cellular Sales is a management company that operates authorized retail stores for Verizon Wireless throughout the South, Midwest, and Atlantic regions of the United States. It is the largest independent Verizon Wireless retailer in the country, and is still growing. By year-end, there will be more than 300 Cellular Sales stores throughout the United States. The company prides itself on an unrelenting focus on total customer satisfaction. Dedication to its customers has become its corporate mission.

Working with the nation’s largest Verizon Wireless carrier that has the greatest market share in this region makes sense for the Chamber. Accessing business tools and services for its members has become a high priority for the Chamber.

“We’re excited about this partnership because increasing our relationships with members of Knoxville’s business community will benefit us and them tremendously,” says Jay Witherspoon, Cellular Sales advertising director. “What’s more, our attention to superior customer service will allow area companies to experience the support they need to prosper.”

Cellular Sales offers the widest broadband coverage in the market. Verizon Wireless’ newly launched wireless MiFi device creates hotspots that can support up to five wireless devices at one time; an increasingly popular item for small business accessibility. Verizon Wireless’ introduction of its 700 megahertz (4G) Long-Term Evolution network in 2010 will increase connectivity, download speeds, and upload speeds by utilizing frequencies once reserved for analog television broadcasts. These mobile broadband speeds will be 10 times faster than current mobile broadband connections.

For more information, visit Cellular Sales at www.cellularsales.com or the Knoxville Chamber at www.knoxvillechamber.com.

Media Contact
Rick Laney
(865) 584-0550
rlaney@ackermannpr.com

Second Harvest Food Bank of East Tennessee Presents the Second Annual Irish Festival

Posted by Ryan Willis – August 19, 2009

Knoxville, Tenn. – Wear green and help feed the hungry of EastLogo Tennessee!  Second Harvest Food Bank will partner with the Irish community for the Second Annual East Tennessee Irish Festival on Saturday, August 22 at World’s Fair Park Festival Lawn from 1:00pm until 10:00pm.  

“Every dollar spent at the East Tennessee Irish Fest goes directly to helping feed the hungry in our community,” said Elaine Streno, Executive Director of Second Harvest Food Bank.  “At Second Harvest, we are helping over 145,000 people each month and these types of events allow us to continue our mission of ending hunger in East Tennessee.”

The festival will begin with the marching of Knoxville’s Pipes and Drums and a flag raising ceremony.  Bands such as the Dublin City Ramblers, Shamrock Road, and Sigean Band will entertain crowds throughout the day as will members of the Drake School of Irish Dance.  Attendees can enjoy a variety of Irish food and drinks while kids play on the inflatable playground, get their face painted, and meet and greet members of the Knoxville Fire and Police Departments.  A corn-hole tournament will begin at 4:00pm.

Tickets are $10 for adults; $5 for UT students, police officers and firefighters; and kids 12 and under are free.

If you are interested in setting up an interview with a Second Harvest representative, please call John at 865-521-0000.  For more info visit: www.secondharvestknox.org or www.etnirishfest.com.

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Second Harvest Food Bank of East Tennessee, a member of Feeding America, has worked to eliminate hunger since 1982.  In 2009, this organization provided food for more than 9.7 million meals in 18 counties in East Tennessee.  With 6 major programs and 450 Agency/Food Partners, Second Harvest Food Bank of East Tennessee distributes food to more than 145,000 kids, adults and seniors each month. 

Media Contact:
Ryan Willis
(865) 584-0550
rwillis@ackermannpr.com

Verizon retailer Cellular Sales can make you a Wi-Fi hotspot

Posted by Rick Laney – August 18, 2009

IntelligentMobileHotspotKnoxville, Tenn. – Cellular Sales, the nation’s largest retailer of Verizon Wireless, now has one of the most revolutionary devices to hit the wireless market in years – the Verizon Wireless Intelligent Mobile Hotspot.  With a profile about the size of a credit card, the MiFi2200 connects multiple users and provides access to up to five Wi-Fi enabled devices including notebooks, netbooks, MP3 players, smartphones, cameras, PDAs, portable gaming systems and more.

Laptop Magazine called it “one of the year’s most innovative 3G devices” and said it is a “must-have for any road warrior” and invaluable to those who need Internet access not just for themselves, but for small groups that travel together.

Jay Witherspoon of Verizon Wireless retailer Cellular Sales said, “The Intelligent Mobile Hotspot is ideal if you often need Wi-Fi access far away from traditional hotspots or want to give high-speed online access to multiple Wi-Fi enabled devices at one time.

“It is a portable, wireless Wi-Fi hotspot. From wherever you are in the coverage area, it detects the Verizon Wireless network and allows access to a reliable broadband connection.  In Wi-Fi mode, it can connect up to five Wi-Fi–enabled devices at the same time. 

“The lithium-ion battery provides up to 4 hours (40 hours on standby) of usage or the device can be plugged directly into an electric outlet.  In USB mode, the device connects to your notebook via the included USB cable to use as a modem.”

The Verizon Wireless Intelligent Mobile Hotspot available at Cellular Sales is about the size of eight stacked credit cards and weighs just over 2 ounces, so it’s ultra-portable.  Security features on the device include:

  • Password protection
  • VPN pass-through
  • CDMA authentication and identification
  • Dynamic Mobile IP (MIP) key update
  • Serial Peripheral Interface (SPI) firewall

Cellular Sales is a 15-year old privately held company headquartered in Knoxville, Tenn.  The company currently operates throughout the United States.  By year end, Cellular Sales – which attributes its rapid growth to unparalleled customer service – will open 50 new stores, bringing the company’s total number of locations to over 300.  Last year, Inc. Magazine named Cellular Sales one of the nation’s fastest growing privately held companies. 

For more information about the new Verizon Wireless Intelligent Mobile Hot Spot available at Cellular Sales or to find a store near you, visit the company’s web site at www.cellularsales.com.

Media Contact
Rick Laney
(865) 584-0550
rlaney@ackermannpr.com

Second Harvest Sees Record Demand, Provides More Food than Ever Before

Posted by Ryan Willis – August 17, 2009

Knoxville, Tenn. – If anyone needs proof just how tough things haveLogo  gotten in East Tennessee all they need to do is talk to the people at Second Harvest Food Bank of East Tennessee. In the last year an additional 15,000 people per month have found themselves in need of food. That means 145,000 people in need are getting food each month, and the demand is still growing. 

Sadly, it’s meant another record year for Second Harvest with the equivalent of 9.5 million meals provided across an 18 county area. That’s almost 13 million pounds of food. 6,450 tons of food have been provided…and simply put, it’s not enough. 

“Our partner agencies have been hit hard with so many requests for food. I am happy to say that Second Harvest has been able to dramatically increase the amount of food we were able to provide to our agencies.  However, we are learning that the amount of food that is being distributed into the community is still not meeting the full demand for food assistance,” said Elaine Streno, Executive Director of Second Harvest.  

Second Harvest Food Bank has been able to handle the increase in demand by working with a network of agency partners such as church pantries, shelters, group homes, community kitchens, schools and many other organizations that serve the needy.  With the help of these organizations, the food bank has been fortunate to distribute the record breaking 12.9 million pounds of food throughout 18 counties in East Tennessee.

“And while we are thrilled that more people and businesses are supporting our work it still isn’t enough,” said Streno. “If we can raise more money and purchase more food, we can feed more people. It’s as simple as that. We know things are hard for a lot of people, but we hope those who can will dig a little deeper and help us make sure people aren’t going without food.”

Second Harvest Food Bank will continue to work on increasing the quantity and number of staple products offered to agency partners in an effort to better serve the hungry in our community.

If you are interested in supporting Second Harvest, or work as part of an agency or food bank and are interested in setting up an interview with a Second Harvest representative, please call Elaine Streno at 865-850-4284.  For more info visit: www.secondharvestknox.org

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Second Harvest Food Bank of East Tennessee, a member of Feeding America, has worked to eliminate hunger since 1982.  In 2009, this organization provided food for more than 9.7 million meals in 18 counties in East Tennessee.  With 6 major programs and 450 Agency/Food Partners, Second Harvest Food Bank of East Tennessee distributes food to more than 145,000 kids, adults and seniors each month. 

Media Contact:
Ryan Willis
(865) 584-0550
rwillis@ackermannpr.com

Nation’s largest Verizon retailer, Cellular Sales, hires Ackermann

Posted by Rick Laney – August 12, 2009

Cellular Sales Logo

Knoxville, Tenn. – Ackermann PR has been retained by Cellular Sales for public relations services.  Cellular Sales is the nation’s largest exclusive retailer of Verizon Wireless.  Headquartered in Knoxville, Cellular Sales is a 15-year old privately held company.  The company currently operates stores throughout the United States, and is expanding every month.  By year end, Cellular Sales will open 50 new stores – bringing their total number of physical locations to over 300.  Last year, Inc. Magazine named Cellular Sales one of the nation’s fastest growing privately held companies. 

Cellular Sales Two

Media Contact
Rick Laney
(865) 584-0550
rlaney@ackermannpr.com

Guests invited to jump in the lake at Wilderness

Posted by Rick Laney – August 11, 2009

Sevierville, Tenn. – With summer in full swing and temperatures heating up, guests at Wilderness at the Smokies resort in Sevierville, Tenn. can now navigate the rapids, ride the waves or simply relax in a private poolside cabana – all features of Wilderness at the Smokies’ newest waterpark attraction.  Lake Wilderness, the newest phase of the full-service waterpark resort, is now open to those staying at the resort.

Guests look out from their balcony at one of two outdoor waterparks at Wilderness at the Smokies resort near the Great Smoky Mountains.

Guests look out from their balcony at one of two outdoor waterparks at Wilderness at the Smokies resort near the Great Smoky Mountains.

Wilderness guests can grab a tube and jump in the Lake Wilderness 12,000-square-foot Wave Pool – where waves within the pool can crest as high as five feet.  Also winding around the outdoor waterpark is Cataloochee Creek, a nearly 1,000 foot rapid-moving river with water spray features located along its path.

“We have been extremely pleased with the acceptance and success we have received with the recent opening of the Wild Waterdome Indoor Waterpark, and are excited to further enhance our guests’ experience with the opening of Lake Wilderness,” says David McGregor, general manager of Wilderness at the Smokies “With another exciting attraction now in place, we feel as though we have one of the premier indoor/outdoor waterpark resorts in the country.”

The ten private poolside cabanas situated around Lake Wilderness are available for guests to rent, with each cabana featuring shelter from the sun, cabana-style lounge chairs, a flat panel television and a personal cabana host.  An outdoor bar and grill is also located within the outdoor waterpark to help satisfy those afternoon cravings.

With the opening of the Lake Wilderness Outdoor Waterpark, the Wilderness at the Smokies Resort boasts two outdoor waterparks and the Wild WaterDome Indoor Waterpark, making it the largest resort of its kind in the southeast.

Appropriately named the Wild WaterDome, the indoor waterpark spans more than 60,000 square feet with a see-thru, energy-efficient Texlon™ roof that allows UV rays to permeate the structure so guests can tan indoors year-round. The waterpark is home to the Smokies SurfRider, the state’s only surfing simulator that uses 50,000 gallons of water a minute to create a continuously moving sheet of water on which people can surf or boogie board. “It’s like riding an ocean wave, but indoors,” McGregor said.  “Parents and kids alike will love the thrill of riding a wave in a safe and controlled environment.”

The waterpark also boasts the Storm Chaser, a four-person tube slide that begins with a 58-foot drop into a giant orange-and-white funnel where riders swoosh back and forth up the sides of the funnel, causing shrieks of delight and flip-flopping stomachs. Other activities at the Wild WaterDome, which is reserved exclusively for resort guests, include the Great Wave, a 10,000-square-foot wave pool capable of generating waves up to five feet high. In addition, two tube slides, an indoor/outdoor hot spa, a multi-level play structure with a gigantic dumping bucket and 50-plus play-and-spray features, along with a special toddler area with mini-slides and a swing tree are sure to keep the whole family occupied for hours.

Wilderness at the Smokies, located minutes from Interstate 40 and situated in the scenic foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains, is establishing a new standard for family vacations to East Tennessee.  Phase I of the resort opened in June 2008 with a 234-room hotel and outdoor waterpark.  The Wild WaterDome Indoor Waterpark opened in December 2008 and the resort has just opened its Lake Wilderness Outdoor Waterpark which features an Adventure River and a 12,000 square foot Wave Pool. 

The developers of Wilderness at the Smokies Resort are the owners of Wilderness Hotel & Golf Resort – America’s Largest Waterpark Resort in Wisconsin Dells.  For more information on the resort or for reservations, visit www.wildernessatthesmokies.com or call 1-800-867-WILD (9453). 

Media contact:
Rick Laney, Ackermann PR
865-584-0550
rlaney@ackermannpr.com

CMSS Announces Advisory Agreement with Ridge Global

Posted by Ryan Willis – August 7, 2009

CMSS_Logo_Green_BlackMaryville, Tenn. – Critical Mission Support Services (CMSS), a Maryville-based company specializing in providing governments and organizations around the world with mission critical services, has entered into an agreement with Ridge Global, a strategic consulting firm headquartered in Washington, D.C.  Ridge Global is led by The Honorable Tom Ridge, the first Secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and former Governor of Pennsylvania. 

Ridge Global will be working closely with the CMSS leadership team to develop their security strategy and international business plan.  

“This is a great opportunity for CMSS, with the reputation of Ridge Global and Governor Ridge being second to none,” said CMSS President, Eric Barton.  “We are thrilled to be working with Ridge Global and look forward to benefiting from their expertise and the solutions they provide as we move forward.”

Ridge Global provides strategic consulting services that advance the security and economic interests of businesses and governments worldwide.  The firm is comprised of a network of experts drawn from high-level posts in multi-national and multi-disciplinary circles and boasts key relationships with legal, accounting, technology and venture capital companies around the world.

Critical Mission Support Services (CMSS) is a global “turn-key” construction and logistics company dedicated to delivering world-class solutions to complex projects around the globe.  The company offers a wide variety of services, including construction, life support, demining, logistics/procurement, security and IT communications. 

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Media Contact:
Ryan Willis
(865) 584-0550
rwillis@ackermannpr.com