Month: July 2010

Family Practice Physician Lisa Marie Bowling Joins East Tennessee Medical Group

Posted by Lisa Hood Skinner – July 23, 2010

Lisa Marie Bowling, M.D.

ALCOA, Tenn. –Board Certified family practice physician Lisa Marie Bowling, M.D., will join the staff of East Tennessee Medical Group, 266 Joule St., Alcoa, Tenn. She begins accepting patients July 19.

She comes to Alcoa from Birmingham, Ala., where she previously practiced at ACIPCO Medical Group. She completed her residency and internship with the Department of Family Medicine at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center and Saint Francis Hospital in Memphis, Tenn. where she also received her medical degree. She earned her bachelor’s degree in biology and biochemistry summa cum laude from Lee University in Cleveland, Tenn.

Dr. Bowling also previously served as a faculty physician/assistant professor at Baptist Memorial Hospital at Tipton, in Covington, Tenn., and has given community presentations on diabetes management, heart health and weight management. She is a member of the Society for Teachers of Family Medicine, Southern Medical Association, American Academy of Family Physicians, Tennessee Medical Association and the American Medical Association.

East Tennessee Medical Group is a 50-provider multi-specialty medical group in Alcoa, serving Blount County for over 15 years.  For the second consecutive year, ETMG has been recognized as the # 1 Healthcare facility in Blount County by The Daily Times Readers’ Choice Awards. For more information, call 984-ETMG or visit its website at www.etmg.net.

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Media Contact

Ron German

East Tennessee Medical Group

(865) 984-ETMG

Cellular Sales Verizon Wireless Opens National Call Center in Knoxville, Tenn. and Adds 250 New Jobs

Posted by Erin Freeman – July 21, 2010

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Knoxville-based Cellular Sales, the nation’s largest Verizon premium wireless retailer, announced today that it is opening a new National Call Center at 9038 Cross Park Drive NW across from the U.S. Post Office near Cedar Bluff Road.

Cellular Sales also announced it would hire between 200 and 250 new employees to work at the National Call Center within the next two months.  The new operation – which represents an investment of more than $1 million by Cellular Sales – will employ supervisors, managers and customer service representatives in full-time and part-time positions.

Jay Witherspoon of Cellular Sales talks to the media about the company's new National Call Center in Knoxville, Tenn.

Jay Witherspoon of Cellular Sales, said, “This new National Call Center is a perfect extension to the ultimate customer service Cellular Sales provides.  We want every customer who purchases a wireless device in one of our 300-plus stores across the country to get a call from our National Call Center within 24 hours of the time they leave our store.

“Every customer we call will be asked what their in-store experience was like, we will make sure they understand how their new phone operates and make sure they understand their service plan.  It’s just one more way for Cellular Sales to guarantee that our customers are getting unparalleled service.”

The Verizon Wireless retailer also conducts ongoing analysis of its customers’ phone usage so the company can notify customers when other service plans would be more cost effective for them.

“Everyone uses their wireless phone differently,” said Mark Dugger, National Call Center Manager for Cellular Sales.

“Here at our new National Call Center, we will monitor how our customers are using their phones and reach out to them if we recognize usage trends that are better-suited to other service plans.  There just aren’t many companies out there that will take extra steps like this to save their customers money.”

The new Cellular Sales National Call Center has nearly 13,000 square-feet of space and, according to Cellular Sales, will provide the ability for growth beyond the 200 to 250 people they initially plan to employ.

“As a company, we have grown by about 30 percent every year,” said Witherspoon.  “As we move forward, we fully expect similar growth here at the National Call Center.”

Cellular Sales is a 17-year old privately held company founded and headquartered in Knoxville, Tenn.  The company currently operates throughout the United States.  By year end, Cellular Sales – which attributes its rapid growth to its unique level of customer service – will open at least 50 new stores, bringing the company’s total number of locations to around 400.  For the past two years, Inc. magazine named Cellular Sales one of the nation’s fastest growing retail companies in the country.

For more information about Cellular Sales, or to find a Cellular Sales location near you, visit the company’s web site at www.cellularsales.com. Job seekers should call (865) 531-9359 to schedule an interview.

To learn more about the new Cellular Sales National Call Center, read and watch additional coverage of this story at the Knoxville News Sentinel, WATE (ABC), WBIR (NBC), and WVLT (CBS).

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

Cellular Sales Verizon Wireless expanding in Florida and New York

Posted by admin – July 19, 2010

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Cellular Sales, the nation’s largest retailer of Verizon Wireless, is expanding in Florida and New York. The new Cellular Sales stores opened at 10720 US Hwy 441 in Leesburg, Fla. and 160 Dolson Avenue in Middletown, N.Y. last week.

Cellular Sales is a 17-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 operate more than 350 locations throughout the country.  For the past two years, Inc. Magazine has named Cellular Sales one of the nation’s fastest growing privately held companies. This year, the company was in the Top 100 for retailers.

For more information about the new Cellular Sales Verizon Wireless stores, visit the company’s web site at www.cellularsales.com or call Chris Keen at (321) 246-6206 or Jeff Currey at (407) 340-3306 in Leesburg, Fla. or Luke Fletcher at (704) 796-6939 or Tim Blackburn at (315) 729-4125 in Middletown, N.Y.

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Media contact:
Rick Laney, Ackermann PR
(865) 584-0550
RLaney@AckermannPR.com

Charleston, S.C. area football wish granted at Cellular Sales Grand Opening event

Posted by admin – July 15, 2010

Left to right: Jim Martin (Cellular Sales), Russell Smith (Make-A-Wish Foundation of South Carolina, President and CEO), Tyler Pratt (Wish child), Kayley Pratt (sister of Wish child), Donna Pratt (mother of Wish child), Tim Pratt (father of Wish child), Mike Baker (Cellular Sales), Ari Mendlovitz (Cellular Sales).

Mount Pleasant, S.C. – Tyler, a 13-year-old boy from Summerville, S.C. who is suffering from Osteosarcoma, arrived by limousine with his family at the Grand Opening of the new Cellular Sales Verizon Premium Wireless store in Mount Pleasant, S.C. on Tuesday, July 13 to hear that his one wish will be granted: to attend Ohio State University’s (OSU) 2010 season bowl game.

Tyler and his family arrived at the Grand Opening of the new Cellular Sales Verizon Premium Wireless store, located at 905 Johnnie Dodds Boulevard in Mount Pleasant, at approximately 11 a.m. where Ari Mendlovitz, Mike Baker and Jim Martin of Cellular Sales presented the Make-A-Wish Foundation® of South Carolina with a check in the amount of $10,000 for Tyler’s wish.

Tyler was also presented with OSU gear to take with him on his trip, including a jersey with his favorite player’s number. Billy Swails, Mayor of Mount Pleasant, also attended the wish granting event with Tyler and his family and wished them a great time on their trip.

“We can’t tell you enough how thankful we are for everything that Make-A-Wish has done for us and for Cellular Sales and Verizon making Tyler’s wish come true,” said Donna Pratt, Tyler’s mother. “It’s been a long and tough journey but Tyler is doing well right now with only six more treatments to go. The kindness and generosity we have felt from everyone has just overwhelmed us.”

Cold Stone Creamery, which is a national corporate sponsor of the Make-A-Wish Foundation®,  was also present at the wish granting, providing free ice cream cups and coupons. The company will participate in the world’s largest ice cream social at the end of September to benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation®, along with every other Cold Stone store in the country.

Cellular Sales, Verizon Premium Wireless Retailer, partnered with Make-A-Wish earlier this summer to help make wishes come true all over the state of South Carolina and in North Carolina. With 32 locations across both states, Cellular Sales decided to give its customers a chance to make a difference as well. Starting at the end of July, each store will sell blue Make-A-Wish bracelets for $5 each, and will also promote a new campaign called “Text-A-Wish.” Customers may text the keyword SCWISH to 90999 in South Carolina or WISH to 27722 in North Carolina to make a one-time donation of $5 to help grant a wish for a deserving child in their local area.

For more information about Cellular Sales’ partnership with the Make-A-Wish Foundation® of South Carolina or North Carolina, call Mike Baker at (910) 409-3222 or Ari Mendlovitz at (843) 696-5556.

The Make-A-Wish Foundation® grants the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength and joy. The South Carolina chapter grants over 130 wishes each year and has never turned down a medically qualified South Carolina child for a wish. For more information on the Make-A-Wish Foundation® please call 864-250-0702 or visit www.sc.wish.org.

Cellular Sales is a 17-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 operate more than 350 locations throughout the country.  For the past two years, Inc. Magazine has named Cellular Sales one of the nation’s fastest growing privately held companies. This year, the company was in the Top 100 for retailers.

For more information about Cellular Sales, visit www.cellularsales.com.

Media Contact:
Rick Laney
Ackermann PR
(865) 584-0550
RLaney@AckermannPR.com

Arant named Executive Vice President at SmartBank

Posted by admin – July 8, 2010

Knoxville, Tenn. – SmartBank announced that Bill Arant has been named Executive Vice President. Arant brings nearly 50 years of banking experience to the organization.

“Having Bill come to work with us is a true honor,” said Billy Carroll, President and CEO. “His experience and expertise will give SmartBank a substantial advantage in the East Tennessee area.”

“I truly admire the integrity, experience and reputation of SmartBank’s management and board, so I’m thrilled to be a part of the team,” said Arant. “SmartBank will continue to excel in the Greater Knoxville area primarily because of the extreme dedication and determination of the bank’s management and board.”

Most recently, Arant served as the Executive Vice President, Corporate Banking Strategy and Development, at SunTrust Bank. He also served as a managing partner of Venture Alliance and was a founder, President and CEO, and later became Chairman of the Board of First National Bank of Knoxville.

Bill Arant

Throughout his career, Arant has held leadership roles with the American Bankers Association and served as President of the Greater Knoxville Chamber of Commerce. Additionally, he has served in leadership positions with many community organizations, including Knoxville Symphony Society, Leadership Knoxville, Tennessee’s Resource Valley, Knoxville Jazz Orchestra, Greater Knoxville United Way Campaign (1986 Chairman), Chairman of the Knoxville Zoo, Chairman of the University of Tennessee Chancellor’s Associates and Chairman of Tennessee Technology Development Authority.

Arant received a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Duke University, where he played basketball and baseball. He also attended Stonier Graduate School of Banking at Rutgers University. He resides in Knoxville with his wife, Barbara. They have two children and two grandchildren.

Founded in 2007, SmartBank has more than $290 million in assets and currently serves customers in four bank locations: Sevierville, Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg and Knoxville. For more about SmartBank, visit www.SmartBank.net.

More photos available upon request.

Media Contact: 
Sarah Malak 
Ackermann PR
(865) 584-0550
SMalak@AckermannPR.com

Cellular Sales Verizon Wireless Expanding in Clark, Kentucky

Posted by admin – July 6, 2010

Clark, Ky. – Cellular Sales, the nation’s largest retailer of Verizon Wireless, is expanding in Clark, Ky. The new Cellular Sales store opened at 1515 W. Lexington Avenue in Clark last week.

Cellular Sales is a 17-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 operate more than 350 locations throughout the country.  For the past two years, Inc. Magazine has named Cellular Sales one of the nation’s fastest growing privately held companies. This year, the company was in the Top 100 for retailers.

For more information about the new Cellular Sales Verizon Wireless store, visit the company’s web site at www.cellularsales.com or call RC Scheinler at (502) 396-4117 or Joe Burns at (502) 396-4100.


Media contact:
Rick Laney
(865) 584-0550