Month: November 2010

One-of-a-kind new $40 million “Water Magic” attraction will make a huge splash in Pigeon Forge

Posted by Erin Freeman – November 23, 2010

Pigeon Forge, Tennessee – Nothing fascinates children of all ages like water.  They are drawn to it, mesmerized by it and love being surrounded by it.  Next year, John Joslyn plans to give kids (and kids at heart) just what they want with his brand new “Water Magic” attraction in Pigeon Forge, Tenn.

John Joslyn

Joslyn announced Tuesday morning that he is moving forward with plans to build the more than $40 million Water Magic across from his Titanic Museum Attraction on the Parkway in Pigeon Forge.  Joslyn said construction would begin early next year and he hopes to open the new attraction by the summer of 2013.  Contrary to early reports, Joslyn said Water Magic is not a water park.

Joslyn has been welcomed warmly to East Tennessee, and the Titanic Museum Attraction he co-owns and operates with his wife Mary Kellogg-Joslyn, has been an overwhelming hit with tourists – averaging 100,000 visitors per month.  Like everything the Joslyn’s have been involved with, Water Magic will leave its guests amazed and in awe.

John Joslyn said, “When we came to East Tennessee last April, we had evaluated a number of tourism markets.  We have experience in Orlando and in Branson – so we truly believed our concepts would succeed here.  We’ve surpassed our projections here in Pigeon Forge in almost every way, so it should come as no surprise that we want to build our next major attraction right here.  I can assure you, Water Magic will exceed any of your expectations – this one is simply going to blow you away.

“Water Magic will be one of the world’s most innovative and magical family-themed attractions.  Full of water but not a water park – Water Magic will introduce a new dimension in family entertainment for all generations.”

Like Joslyn’s Titanic Museum Attraction across the Parkway, the brand new Water Magic will be impossible for visitors to miss.  The entire attraction will be wrapped in GREEN as it recycles water, generates electricity, and produces its own HVAC in a unique, new, eco-conscious building of the future.  From the Parkway, the building itself will be an amazing sight.

Water Magic is a one-of-a-kind attraction that will offer guests a splashing good time, beginning with a 100-foot kinetic-energy sculpture.  Crowned with a 1,000-gallon water bucket that haphazardly topples over on a regular basis, this iconic sculpture will feature water that cascades down and onto Water Magic’s grand entry plaza.  Like other Joslyn projects, Water Magic will be unparalleled in its commitment to every aspect of the guest experience.

Artist's conceptual rendering of Water Magic

The first stop for visitors to Water Magic will be Emporium Square, a two-story atrium with a kaleidoscope of water-driven gadgetry that immediately captures the imagination.  Fountains of water, in every shape, size and description, will be synchronized to music, creating a marvelous water wonderland.  Center stage will be occupied by none other than the “Wizard,” the impresario of Water Magic.  Guests will find he has a devilish sense of humor and loves to make people wet.

Emporium Square will lead to a number of portals, and each guest may choose the one that begins his/her adventure.  Each portal flows into a different gallery that offers a fun experience with water—that mysterious, slippery, mesmerizing, reflective and hypnotic wet stuff that’s just plain fun.  Some galleries will allow guests to feel like they are walking on water, while the Water Tunnel will make them laugh out loud from the surprise burst of water they get as they enter.  And let’s not forget the Mirror Maze gauntlet that not only puzzles the mind but keeps everyone on their toes with—you guessed it—more water.

Guests will love the new Water Theater and the latest production of Water Magic’s “Imagination Rhapsody”—a musical cacophony of water jets and swaying water spouts that will entertain all.  Guests will even be able to orchestrate their own water symphonies, but they shouldn’t be surprised if the wrong note sends a wave of water their way.  In the Deep-Sea Exhibition area, guests will experience a dive to the ocean floor, where they can explore the depths and its creatures.  Another experience designed to mesmerize guests will be the famous Bubble Room, where there’s a lot more to bubbles than anyone thought they knew.

Like a water-powered funhouse on steroids, Water Magic is where guests can opt for complete and total immersion.  Our motto is “Get Me Wet.”  Our objective throughout the attraction is to entertain with a splash of “edutainment.”  And not to worry; body dryers flank each gallery to blow-dry any wetness.

“I got into the water in the 1980s with Titanic,” Joslyn joked, “and for the past 25 years I haven’t been able to get out.  I don’t know what I’ll do next – but chances are it will involve water.”

The most unique aspect of Water Magic’s basic equation is that almost every entertainment element—from concept to creation—will have sprung from the minds of Westgate’s design team.  Therefore, Westgate Entertainment will have proprietary control of all intellectual property, and may recycle and apply it to future attractions.  This will help Westgate create a powerful brand that preserves the unique qualities of Water Magic and other future attraction venues.

###

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

Knoxville-based BioPet Vet Lab featured on This American Life

Posted by Erin Freeman – November 22, 2010

Fans of the public radio program This American Life had a chance this weekend to hear Ira Glass conduct an interview centering around BioPet Vet Lab’s innovative way of using DNA technology to address an unpleasant problem.

Deb Logan, a property manager at a pet-friendly apartment complex in New Hampshire, describes gleefully how Poo Prints has helped improve the commitment from pet owners to clean up after their dogs and bring peace to the community.

The complete show is available for listening below. The 14 minute segment featuring Poo Prints from BioPet Vet Lab begins at the 16 minute mark in a chapter entitled, “Witness for the Poo-secution.”

Colon Cancer-Detecting Blood Test Previewed at MEDICA Trade Show

Posted by Ryan Willis – November 19, 2010

Düsseldorf, Germany – The future of colon cancer screening may be surprisingly simple. ColoMarker™, an innovative blood test to detect the early stages of colon cancer is generating plenty of attention from a wide audience, including from some of the world’s leading researchers in cancer biomarkers and gastrointestinal medicine.

At the EDP Biotech booth (l-r) *Inga Hauglum, Rod Kaiser, Herbert Fritsche, PhD, *Bret Niesen, *Jussi Kontturi, *Bente Hemsborg Skar, *Christer Liden, *Peter Blom (*indicates Electra-Box Diagnostica Oy representatives)

EDP Biotech, a US-based medical research company, is introducing ColoMarker to medical professionals from around the globe who are attending Germany’s famous Medica trade fair. Dr. Herbert Fritsche, recently retired Chief of the Clinical Chemistry Section of M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, is one of the world’s leading experts on cancer biomarkers as well as a member of EDP Biotech’s scientific advisory board. Dr. Fritsche is attending the trade fair to discuss development of the serum-based test for the early detection of colon cancer. 

Another internationally-famous physician, Dr. Gene Overholt, credited as the inventor of the colonoscopy, has also recently joined the company’s scientific advisory board. 

To date, physicians have relied on colonoscopies and fecal occult blood testing (FOBT) to identify potential cases of early stage colon cancer. However, the unpleasantness and discomfort associated with colonoscopies and the limited reliability of other screening tests cause many patients to avoid testing. 

“When patients avoid testing, they also avoid the opportunity to detect the cancer at its earliest and most survivable stages,” says Tom Boyd, CEO of EDP Biotech. “This means patients are truly putting their lives at risk. We saw an opportunity to save lives if we could help physicians better identify which of their patients were most in need of a colonoscopy or other testing.” 

ColoMarker provides that function as a simple blood test. The test identifies elevated levels of a biomarker in the bloodstream associated with the presence of colorectal cancers. When an elevated result is received, physicians can consult with their patients on the need for additional testing to aid in a diagnosis, prognosis, or treatment plan. 

Pre-clinical testing of ColoMarker has shown a greater than 99% accuracy rate for detecting colon cancer in the Stages I, II, and III. 

The company also was recently awarded a grant from the United States government for work on further development and testing of ColoMarker. The Qualifying Therapeutic Discovery Project (QTDP) grant is awarded to assist bio-tech companies showing significant potential in their work to develop new therapies and making advances in the fight to cure cancer.  By debuting ColoMarker in the exhibit halls of the Medica trade fair, EDP Biotech hopes to bring that same awareness of ColoMarker’s potential to research laboratories and medical practices across Europe. 

##

About EDP Biotech Corporation
EDP Biotech (EDP) is a medical device company focused on the development and sale of immunodiagnostic tests for both humans and animals.  EDP utilizes more than 30 years of research and development in the identification and purification of proteins present in the early stages of biological changes for production of in vitro diagnostics test whose primary target is the development of early detection products. For additional information, visit EDP Biotech online at www.colomarker.com.

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

One Tree Grille to Reopen

Posted by Ryan Willis – November 19, 2010

According to the Knoxville News Sentinel’s Carly Harrington, One Tree Grille will reopen today, November 19.

To read her blog on this story, click here.

One Tree Grille is located at the Shops at Western Plaza in Sequoyah Hills.

Cellular Sales Invests $500,000 in Kansas and Missouri; Announces 48 New Sales Positions

Posted by admin – November 17, 2010

Interior of a Cellular Sales Store

Kansas City, Mo. – Cellular Sales, the nation’s largest Verizon premium wireless retailer, today announced a major expansion in Kansas and Missouri. Since early October, the company has opened five new stores in the two states and plans to open one more on Black Friday (November 26). In all, Cellular Sales has created 48 sales positions to service the six new stores.

Cellular Sales Verizon Wireless has opened new locations in West Plains, Bolivar and Clinton, Mo. and Winfield and Iola, Kan. in the past 45 days. One more store location, scheduled to open on Black Friday, will open in Fulton, Mo. The new store locations, along with their opening date and number of sales positions, are listed below: 

1006 Worley Drive, West Plains, Mo., 65775
Phone: (417) 257-0800
Opened Oct. 4, 2010
8 sales positions 

920 Springfield Avenue, Bolivar, Mo., 65613-2460
Phone: (417) 326-1001
Opened Oct. 4, 2010
8 sales positions 

116 South Main Street, Clinton, Mo. 64735
Phone: (660) 383-4127
Opened Oct. 5, 2010
8 sales positions
$250,000 investment 

907 Main Street, Winfield, Kan., 67165
Phone: (620) 221-1551
Opened Oct. 4, 2010
8 sales positions 

621 North State, Iola, Kan., 66749
Phone: (620) 365-0116
Opened Oct. 4, 2010
8 sales positions 

1500 Bluff Street, Fulton, Mo., 65251
Phone: (573) 826-4876
Opening on Black Friday (Nov. 26, 2010)
8 sales positions
$250,000 investment 

The six stores represent job creation and a boost for the local economy. According to Ann Snyder, the national recruiter for Cellular Sales, sales consultants for the company earn an average of more than $51,000 per year. 

Currently, Cellular Sales operates more than 350 stores across the United States. Cellular Sales recently announced 250 new jobs at its National Call Center in Knoxville, Tenn. 

“Cellular Sales continues to grow rapidly because of its special attention to customer service. Our sales representatives participate in a very thorough training program in order to learn our products and service plans backwards and forwards,” said Beau Hammon, Regional Director for Cellular Sales. 

“Customers receive unparalleled customer service from the minute they walk in the door,” said José Ordoñez, Regional Director of Cellular Sales. 

“We follow up with customers after their visit to ask about their in-store experience. We also monitor each customer’s phone usage so we can contact them when other service plans would be more cost effective. The customer is number one in our eyes,” he said. 

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 will open approximately 50 new stores in markets across the United States, bringing the company’s total number of locations to nearly 400. For the past three years, Inc. Magazine has named Cellular Sales one of the nation’s fastest growing retail companies in the country.  

This year, Inc. magazine listed Cellular Sales at No. 72 on its list of the nation’s fastest growing companies according to gross dollars of growth. Cellular Sales was ranked No. 1,856 on the fourth annual overall list of the nation’s fastest growing companies (up from No. 2,069 last year).  The “Inc. 5,000” represents a comprehensive look at America’s independent-minded entrepreneurs. 

Growth for Cellular Sales this year was reported at 147 percent according to Inc. magazine.  The magazine ranked Cellular Sales No. 96 on the “Inc. 5,000” list of the nation’s fastest-growing privately held retail companies.  The magazine reported that Cellular Sales’ 2006 revenue of $127.9 million grew to $316.1 million last year. 

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. For more information on the new Kansas and Missouri stores, call José Ordoñez at (816) 206-0024 or Beau Hammon at (816) 519-9156. 

Job seekers in Fulton, Mo. should call Kori York at (727) 251-2823. In Kansas City, West Plains, Bolivar and Clinton, Mo. and in Winfield and Iola, Kan., job seekers should call Brandon Mitchell at (614) 915-1625 or visit www.cellularsales.com/opportunity to schedule an interview. 

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

Invisible Fence® Brand Acquires Largest Distributor

Posted by Ryan Willis – November 9, 2010

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Radio Systems Corporation (RSC) has purchased the largest distributor of its Invisible Fence Brand products.
 
“We are thrilled to make JGB Distributing a part of the family,” said RSC Executive Vice President Willie Wallace. “A key part of the decision was making sure that the JGB management team, including CEO Bill Miltz would remain on board.”
 
“Having the resources and management of RSC behind us will enable us to expand and accomplish even more,” said Miltz, who will stay on as CEO of JGB. “We’ll be able to expand, have more input on product development and marketing, and keep our management and our 85 employees in place right here in Cleveland.”
 
JGB Distributing has expanded rapidly over the past few years and now provides Invisible Fence Brand products and services to over 105 dealers in 22 states and 11 Canadian provinces and territories (a list of states, provinces and territories appears at the end of this article).
 
“Given its national and international reach, bringing the company in-house is a logical move,” said RSC Vice President of New Market Development Lance Tracy. “We will have better alignment between national and regional strategies. The combined team will better ensure that the needed resources and the best ideas are used to market even more effectively to a huge area and, quite literally, millions of people.”
 
RSC is a privately held company. Terms of the acquisition were not disclosed.
 
The JGB Distributing territory covers Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, Arkansas, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, Colorado, Utah, Arizona, Nevada, California, Hawaii, Northern West Virginia, Western Pennsylvania in the US and Yukon Territories, Northwest Territories, Nunavut, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, Newfoundland and Labrador, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island in Canada.

### 

About Radio Systems
Headquartered in Knoxville, Tennessee, Radio Systems Corporation (RSC) is the maker of the PetSafe®, Invisible Fence®, Innotek®, SportDOG®, Staywell®, and most recently the Premier® and Unleashed Technology® brands. The brand portfolio makes RSC an industry leader in the management of pet behavior, pet training solutions, containment systems, safety and lifestyle production solutions. 
 
Media Contact:
Mike Cohen
(865) 584-0550
mcohen@ackermannpr.com

Titanic Museum Attraction Kiss Cam at University of Tennessee recognized as best place to kiss in public

Posted by Erin Freeman – November 8, 2010

Knoxville, Tennessee –   Pucker up, East Tennessee!  You voted, and the results are in. The Titanic Museum Kiss Cam at Thompson Boling Arena has been named the “Best Place to Kiss in Public” by the Knoxville News Sentinel’s East Tennessee’s Best 2010 Awards.

And starting in 2010, the Kiss Cam at Thompson-Boling Arena is now brought to you by the Titanic Museum Attraction in Pigeon Forge! The ship’s crew members, maids and Captain can’t wait to see you up on the Titanic Museum Attraction Kiss Cam at a University of Tennessee men’s basketball game. So get those lips ready – only 24,000 people will be watching!

Titanic is always looking for ways new ways to honor the 2,208 passengers and crew aboard the ship.  To honor the 12 honeymooning couples who were onboard the Titanic, the new Titanic Museum Attraction is sponsoring the popular Kiss Cam at Thompson-Boling Arena.

Always a fan favorite at UT men’s basketball games, the Kiss Cam has featured quick kisses, embarrassed kisses, reluctant kisses and passionate kisses over the years.  Some fans have even proposed – successfully and unsuccessfully (as YouTube videos document) – on the Kiss Cam at Thompson-Boling Arena.

The Titanic Museum Attraction in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee is open daily at 9 a.m.  Reservations are strongly suggested (many days sell out entirely).  Or, passengers may purchase tickets online at www.titanicpigeonforge.com or by phone at 800-381-7670.

Cedar Bay Entertainment owns and operates Titanic Museum Attraction in Branson, Missouri and Pigeon Forge, Tennessee.  A privately owned-and-operated entertainment and development company, Cedar Bay is headquartered In Branson, Missouri, the site of its first Titanic Museum Attraction.  Since it’s April 2006 grand opening, Titanic Branson has welcomed nearly 3 million guests.

###

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

EDP Biotech Awarded Federal QTDP Grant

Posted by Ryan Willis – November 4, 2010

Knoxville, Tenn. – EDP Biotech Corporation was awarded a $244,000 grant from the federal government under the Qualifying Therapeutic Discovery Project program as a result of the company’s work in the development of their ColoMarker test™, an early detection blood test for colon cancer.  The QTDP program was designed to make one-time awards to certain biotech companies that show significant potential to produce new therapies; address unmet medical needs; prevent, detect, or treat chronic or acute diseases or conditions; reduce health care costs, or significantly advance the goal of curing cancer within the next 30 years. 

The ColoMarker test developed by EDP Biotech identifies a unique biomarker to help physicians better identify patients most in need of follow-up detection methods such as colonoscopies. By detecting colon cancer in its earliest stages when the survivability rate is at its highest, the ColoMarker test has the potential to save thousands of lives each year.

“This is exciting news for our company as we continue our work with the ColoMarker test and the early detection of colon cancer,” said Tom Boyd, CEO of EDP Biotech Corporation.  “We are very grateful the federal government has recognized the value of our company’s work and will be supporting us in our efforts as we continue to move forward.”

The QTDP grant program was created by Congress in May of 2010, under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. 

###

About EDP Biotech Corporation

EDP Biotech (EDP) is a medical device company focused on the development and sale of immunodiagnostic tests for both humans and animals.  EDP utilizes more than 30 years of research and development in the identification and purification of proteins present in the early stages of biological changes for production of in vitro diagnostics tests whose primary target is the development of early detection products.

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