Month: September 2011

Boys & Girls Clubs of the Tennessee Valley announces new board members

Posted by admin – September 26, 2011

Knoxville, Tenn. ― Boys & Girls Clubs of the Tennessee Valley has announced the following new members of its Corporate Board of Directors: 

  • Ray Evans, Owner and Chairman of The Anesis Group, Inc.
  • Michelle Hardin, Senior Vice President, Relationship Manager, Medical Private Banking, First Tennessee
  • Russ Watkins, Chief Executive Officer, Partners Development
  • David Rausch, Chief of Police, Knoxville Police Department 
  • Josh Birdwell, Manager, Retail Technology, Pilot Flying J
  • Belinda Kitts, Vice President of Human Resources, Ruby Tuesday, Inc.
  • Andy White, General Manager, Lexus of Knoxville

Additionally, Linda Vaughn, Corporate Secretary and member of the Corporate Board of Directors, Emmet Vaughn Lumber Company, has been named a member of the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Tennessee Valley’s Board of Trustees. 

“The Boys & Girls Clubs of the Tennessee Valley’s Board of Directors is a hard-working group. We are passionate about the mission of the organization and work well together to make a direct impact on the youth the organization serves,” said R.L. “Bunny” Oakes, III, chairman of the organization’s Corporate Board of Directors. “We are thrilled to welcome these great additions.” 

For more information about Boys & Girls Clubs of the Tennessee Valley, visit www.bgctnv.org.

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About Boys & Girls Clubs of the Tennessee Valley

Boys & Girls Clubs currently serves more than 5,600 youth and teens, ages 5 to 17 years throughout the Tennessee Valley region. The organization also provides 404,401 USDA hot meals and snacks annually for youth free of charge. The Clubs serve a variety of youth, more than 80% of whom live with a single parent, foster parent or other nontraditional guardian. There are 16 Club locations strategically placed throughout Knox, Blount, Loudon and Northern Anderson Counties. The organization employs more than 260 trained, professional, caring staff and welcomes more than 1,200 volunteers annually. It is a charter member of United Way. 

*Headshots available upon request.

Media Contact:
Sarah Malak Pope
(865) 584-0550
spope@ackermannpr.com

Titanic Museum Attraction hosts President of Titanic Historical Society for memorial rose petal ceremony

Posted by Erin Freeman – September 20, 2011

Jaynee the Titanic First Class Maid (left) and Edward Kamuda, founder and president of the Titanic Historical Society

PIGEON FORGE, Tenn. – Edward Kamuda, founder and president of the Titanic Historical Society, came to the Titanic Museum Attraction today to participate in the museum’s memorial rose petal ceremony, part of the museum’s special way of honoring the passengers aboard the world’s most famous and luxurious ocean liner as the 100 Year Anniversary of RMS Titanic’s maiden voyage approaches.

Noted explorer, adventurer, and co-owner of the Titanic Museum Attraction, John Joslyn, and Jaynee the Titanic First Class Maid also participated in today’s ceremonies.

It has been 99 years since a lookout in the crow’s nest shouted, “Iceberg right ahead!”  For the twelve months leading up to April 15, 2012, when it will have been a century since the RMS Titanic was lost, Titanic Museum Attractions will pay respect to and honor those 2,208 passengers and crew members with an ongoing series of special events, activities and ceremonies.

As the whole world remembers the world’s most famous luxury liner, Titanic Museum Attractions will continue to open the door to the past in it’s one-of-a-kind way – letting “passengers” experience what it was like to walk the hallways, parlors, cabins and Grand Staircase of the Titanic while surrounded by more than 400 artifacts directly from the ship and its passengers.  As visitors touch a real iceberg, walk the Grand Staircase and third class hallways, reach their hands into 28-degree water, and try to stand on the sloping decks, they learn what it was like on the RMS Titanic by experiencing it first-hand.

Each and every day, Titanic Museum Attractions provides a gateway to 1912, where First Class Maids and a variety of Officers and crew members bring the stories of the fabled ship and its fascinating passengers to life by retelling their stories in vivid, dramatic detail.  The priceless artifacts throughout the museum shed additional light on the lives of those passengers and crew members when guests see the actual belongings of those on board and artifacts that sailed on Titanic’s maiden voyage.

With special Titanic events taking place around the world during 2011 and 2012, Titanic Museum Attractions will be the epicenter of remembrance for RMS Titanic’s passengers and crew.  And, as the museum has demonstrated since its opening, the experience for guests will leave them amazed.  Read about all of the ways Titanic Museum Attractions will honor and respect the brave souls of the Titanic here.

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

Alcoa Wins Large Business of the Year at Blount Partnership Business Excellence Awards

Posted by Lisa Hood Skinner – September 19, 2011

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Congratulations to Alcoa for winning the Large Business of the Year category of this year’s Blount Partnership Business Excellence Awards. Ken McMillen, Alcoa operations manager, accepted the honor on behalf of the company at the Chamber’s Business Excellence Awards breakfast last week.

One of the 21 businesses honored at the event, Alcoa was lauded for its support of Blount County through business capital improvements, community betterment projects and funding of charitable programs. Lisa Hood Skinner, senior vice president at Ackermann PR, said she nominated Alcoa for the award “because Alcoa sets the ‘gold standard’ as a corporate entity that has consistently and continuously… in good times and bad… provided years of unwavering commitment to the region’s financial interests and community efforts.”

Alcoa’s Tennessee Operations is the world’s largest producer of rolled aluminum can sheet for beverage cans. It has been in operation in Blount County, Tenn. since 1913 and currently employs approximately 1,100 East Tennesseans in its Blount and Knox County locations.
 
For more information:
Christy Newman
Alcoa Community Relations Manager
865-977-3358
865-250-9155
 

Representatives from Alcoa’s local operations proudly pose with their Large Business of the Year/ Blount Partnership Business Excellence Award.

 

Lisa Hood Skinner, left, senior vice president, Ackermann PR, congratulates Christy Newman, Alcoa community relations manager, on its Large Business Winner of the Year award. Skinner nominated Alcoa for the prestigious Blount Partnership Business Excellence Award. She submitted a package of information detailing Alcoa’s “gold standard of support” of Blount County through its capital improvements, community betterment projects and funding of charitable programs.

President/CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of the Tennessee Valley retiring

Posted by admin – September 19, 2011

John D. Lee

Knoxville, Tenn. ― After spending four decades of his professional career with the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Tennessee Valley, John D. Lee is announcing his retirement.  He is only the second President/CEO in the organization’s history since its inception in 1943.

A native of Charleston, S.C., Lee began his career with the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Tennessee Valley as Assistant Executive Director on September 16, 1970.  With more than forty years of experience, Lee has not only been invaluable to the Boys & Girls Clubs, but also to the local community.   He has been a mentor to many in the area, lending his expertise and advice on a variety of topics, including management and fundraising.

But, his heart and passion have always revolved around his work with the Boys & Girls Clubs, developing area youth and helping to change the lives of thousands of young people.  Throughout his career, he has ensured that every young person in the Boys & Girls Clubs program has been given the opportunity to grow and develop in a safe and nurturing environment.

“We’d like to thank John Lee for his extraordinary service with the Boys & Girls Clubs over the past few decades,” said Bunny Oakes, chairman of the organization’s corporate board of directors. “He has taken the organization to new heights and has truly made a difference in the community. Boys & Girls Clubs of the Tennessee Valley is what it is today because of John’s efforts.”

Boys & Girls Clubs of the Tennessee Valley’s new strategic president and CEO, whom will be announced in the coming weeks, will lead and direct the agency in growing its mission of promoting the educational, vocational and character development of boys and girls in a safe and caring environment.

The new BGCTNV president and CEO will begin working with the organization in mid to late November. Lee’s retirement will be effective December 31, 2011.

For more information about Boys & Girls Clubs of the Tennessee Valley, visit www.BGCTNV.org.

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About Boys & Girls Clubs of the Tennessee Valley

Boys & Girls Clubs currently serves more than 5,600 youth and teens, ages 5 to 17 years throughout the Tennessee Valley region. The organization also provides 404,401 USDA hot meals and snacks annually for youth free of charge. The Clubs serve a variety of youth, more than 80% of whom live with a single parent, foster parent or other nontraditional guardian. There are 16 Club locations strategically placed throughout Knox, Blount, Loudon and Northern Anderson Counties. The organization employs more than 260 trained, professional, caring staff and welcomes more than 1,200 volunteers annually. It is a charter member of United Way.

Verizon Wireless DROID BIONIC available at Cellular Sales

Posted by Erin Freeman – September 16, 2011

Cellular Sales logo

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – When Verizon Wireless and Motorola Mobility Inc. introduced the DROID BIONIC™ this month exclusively to Verizon Wireless customers, they were not debuting just any new smartphone. The groundbreaking new phone is setting the standard for speed, design and multi-feature functions among power smartphone users.

DROID BIONIC is the first Verizon Wireless smartphone to combine 4G LTE with the power of dual-core 1 GHz processors, 1 GB of RAM and a stunning 4.3-inch qHD display—all in a sleek form factor that makes it the thinnest 4G LTE smartphone from Verizon Wireless. Customers can expect to fly across the Web on the Verizon Wireless 4G LTE network download speeds of 5 to 12 Mbps and upload speeds of 2 to 5 Mpbs in 4G LTE mobile broadband coverage areas.

DROID BIONIC introduces a host of groundbreaking applications and accessories that turn the device into a multimedia hub, a ruler of remote access and a purveyor of virtuality. DROID BIONIC introduces ZumoCast™ by Motorola, an application that lets customers bring their digital world of videos, music, pictures and documents stored on their computers to their handset via remote access. With its revolutionary Webtop application, DROID BIONIC can beam a full-featured Firefox® Web browser 4.0, email or documents to a TV or monitor, like the separately purchased Lapdock™ with an 11.6” screen, keyboard and integrated trackpad.

Accessories such as the HD Station let DROID BIONIC users turn the phone into an entertainment center or home office. Customers can view pictures, video and content from the DROID BIONIC or any HDTV or monitor by connecting a separately sold HDMI cable. They can also take a conference call while editing documents and surfing the Web. And, of course, the DROID BIONIC lets customers share their 4G LTE signal with up to five Wi-Fi-enabled devices when they activate the Verizon Wireless Mobile Hotspot.

Cellular Sales is the nation’s largest Verizon premium wireless retailer with almost 450 retail locations nationwide. Cellular Sales provides customers with access to the newest Verizon wireless technology including Android-powered phones, Apple iPhones, tablets, feature phones, wireless access devices and more.

Cellular Sales is an 18-year-old privately held company founded and headquartered in Knoxville, Tenn. For the past four years, Inc. Magazine has named Cellular Sales one of the nation’s fastest-growing privately-owned retailers. In 2011, the company was ranked among the nation’s 75 fastest growing retailers among the Inc. 5000. For more information about Cellular Sales, visit www.CellularSales.com.

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Media Contact:

Shane Rhyne
Ackermann PR
(865) 584-0550
srhyne@ackermannpr.com

Sevierville announces winner of national search for an amazing and inspiring woman for Girlfriend’s Getaway

Posted by Erin Freeman – September 16, 2011

Julie Pease (left) and Barbie Bricker

Sevierville, Tenn. –  After receiving more than 600 nominations from all parts of the country for Sevierville’s “Great Girlfriend’s Getaway” search, the Sevierville Chamber of Commerce has announced that Julie Pease of Arlington, Texas was selected as the “amazing and inspiring” woman to represent Sevierville in their national Girlfriend’s Getaway ad campaign.  Pease had a surprise visit at her home from representatives of Sevierville and her friend – Barbie Bricker – who nominated her.

Bricker wrote a glowing nomination of Pease, who is the central point of support among their group of friends. During the past decade, Pease has helped her best friend Laurie Jones as she battles cancer, including taking time off work to help her recover from surgeries and transport her to and from chemotherapy. During this time Pease also lost both of her own parents and her husband.  According to Bricker, “Through all of her losses, Julie finds the good. She puts others first and cares for everyone else.”

“This group of girls is so special in my life,” says Pease. “They are my encouragers, my safe place and the people that I can be myself around. I know I can trust them. In the good times and bad times, there will always be laughter! I love these girls.”

Along with three other friends from church – Sandy McNutt, Laurie Jones, and Stephanie McVay – the women will now get an all expenses paid, “over-the-top” Girlfriends Getaway to Sevierville, Tenn. in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains.  While in Sevierville later this month, the group will enjoy high-end shopping at the Tanger Five Oaks with the help of a fashion consultant, luxurious cabin accommodations at Oak Haven Resort, gourmet in-cabin meals, ziplining, winemaking at Hillside Winery, relaxing treatments at Oak Haven Spa, and much more.

“There were so many nominations telling us about incredible women overcoming difficult situations and inspiring others that choosing just one was very difficult,” says Sevierville Chamber of Commerce marketing director Amanda Marr. “We chose Julie because she epitomizes the selflessness of true friendship and I really think other women will relate to her because of that.”

In addition to the free trip Pease and her friends will receive, they will also have the starring role in Sevierville’s new national Girlfriend’s Getaway advertising campaign.

To learn more about organizing a Sevierville Girlfriends Getaway, go to www.OfficialGirlfriendsGetaway.com.  Sevierville is located in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains, and is surrounded by hundreds of restaurants, high end outlet shopping, shows and attractions, and is Dolly Parton’s hometown.  Sevierville is The Official Destination for Girlfriend’s Getaways™.

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Scoop’d Celebrates Grand Opening with Fundraiser and Free Ice Cream Giveaway

Posted by Erin Freeman – September 14, 2011

Knoxville, Tennessee – September 14, 2011 – Scoop’d, a locally-owned independent ice cream parlor, is celebrating its grand opening this weekend with a scoops of ice cream-inspired fun, including a chance to win free ice cream for a year. Scoop’d will also be raising money for the “We Back Pat” general fund in support of Alzheimer’s Tennessee, Inc. The festivities begin with a ribbon cutting ceremony at 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, September 15, at the ice cream parlor at 11519 Parkside Drive.

Scoop’d is the brainchild of Greg and Crystal Stinson and is an independently owned modern-twist on the old-fashioned ice cream parlor. Ice cream in the shop is made in micro-batches in the store and includes an ever-changing rotation of traditional and exotic flavors. In addition to super-premium ice cream, the shop has also been introducing East Tennessee to the taste of traditional Hawaiian shave ices.

During the grand opening weekend, visitors to the ice cream parlor may register for a grand prize drawing of free ice cream for a year. The lucky winner will receive coupons good for a free ice cream purchase each week for 52 weeks. The winning name will be drawn at the conclusion of the grand opening weekend.

The grand opening weekend will also include an opportunity to help raise funds for Alzheimer’s Tennessee, Inc.’s “We Back Pat” research fund. Beginning on Thursday, September 15 and continuing through September 30, Scoop’d is donating all profits from the sales of its Orange Dream ice cream to the fund.

Other activities at the shop during the weekend will include a mystery flavor guessing contest and special discounts on purchases.

Scoop’d is open from noon to 9 p.m., Monday-Thursday, and 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. The ice cream parlor includes plush seats, a modern soda fountain bar, and a private party room available for hosting special events. In addition to ice cream and Hawaiian ice treats, the parlor also serves coffees, lattes and espressos.

For more information about Scoop’d, visit the ice cream parlor in Turkey Creek at 11519 Parkside Drive or online at www.scoopdicecream.com. Scoop’d fans can also keep up to date on news, polls about new flavors, discounts and more through the ice cream parlor’s social media accounts on Facebook, Twitter and Foursquare.

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Media: Photos are available upon request.  For more information or to arrange interviews, contact Shane Rhyne  at (865) 584-0550 or srhyne@ackermannpr.com

Treat your little princess like a real princess at the Titanic Museum Attraction’s first-ever ‘Princess Tea Party’

Posted by Erin Freeman – September 13, 2011

PIGEON FORGE, Tenn. – A magical day awaits little princesses throughout East Tennessee when the Titanic Museum Attraction has its “Princess Tea Party” starting Sept. 24, 2011.  For the first time ever, young ladies from across the area will be treated like royalty and aristocrats on board the world’s most luxurious and most famous ocean liner to ever set sail.

An English tradition dating back hundreds of years will come to life at Titanic Museum Attraction’s Princess Tea Party.  The English began drinking tea in the late 1650s, but with the high costs involved, it was normally a drink reserved almost exclusively for the very wealthy.  But, on Sept. 24, all princesses will enjoy an “afternoon tea” during the Princess Tea Party.

Each princess will experience an afternoon tea very much the way First Class passengers aboard RMS Titanic did.  Maids played an important role in serving tea on board the ship and they will be on hand to serve guests and teach them proper etiquette, table settings and serving skills.

First Class Maid Jamie will also be teaching mini-manner lessons during this time-honored ritual in gracious living.  Guests will be served classic finger sandwiches and cookies and will be given a Titanic fun patch to commemorate their participation in this special event.

Once the princesses have finished their afternoon tea they will be given a tour of the Titanic Museum.  The museum, which has already been named one of the Smoky Mountain Region’s top “must-see” attractions, hosts approximately 100,000 “passengers” each month.

The Princess Tea Party is open to children, ages 5-15 and will be held on Saturday, September 24.  The cost is $22 per child and $25 per adult (this includes admission into the Titanic Museum and the Tea Party).  Seating for the party will be every hour, starting at 9 a.m., with the last seating at 6 p.m.  Space for this signature event is limited and reservations are required.  Please call 800-381-7670 to make reservations.

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

East Tennessee Medical Group Holds Flu Shot Clinic Sept. 12-30

Posted by Lisa Hood Skinner – September 12, 2011

ALCOA, Tenn. –East Tennessee Medical Group, 266 Joule St., Alcoa, is holding its annual flu shot clinic Mon. Sept. 12 – Fri. Sept. 30 from 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Most insurance is accepted and no appointment is necessary.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, flu season typically peaks during January and February, but it often begins as early as October. The CDC reports that the 2011-2012 flu vaccines protect against the three strains of the flu virus expected to be most common this year (including the H1N1 virus that caused a pandemic in 2009).  The CDC suggests the flu vaccine for people considered at high risk of serious flu complications, such as: pregnant women, young children, those with chronic health conditions and people 65 years and older.

“These clinics are intended to benefit the entire region, not just our patients. The key is to encourage our community to be proactive with vaccinations and other means of everyday prevention. That’s why ETMG offers the clinic before flu season really begins,” said Ron German, CEO of ETMG.

 East Tennessee Medical Group is a 50-provider multi-specialty medical group in Alcoa, serving Blount County for over 15 years. For the third 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
(865)984-ETMG
rgerman@etmg.net

Titanic Museum’s John Joslyn will address the Tennessee Hospitality Association Annual Conference

Posted by Erin Freeman – September 6, 2011

MURFREESBORO, Tennessee — Titanic Museum Attraction co-owner John Joslyn, the man who gave the world its very first look at the RMS Titanic resting on the ocean floor in the late 1980s, will be the keynote speaker at the Tennessee Hospitality Association and Greater Nashville Hospitality Association Annual Meeting on Wednesday, September 7, 2011 at 9 a.m. CT.

John Joslyn

For more than three decades, John Joslyn has been a powerful force behind innovative exhibitions, attractions, television programming and marketing.  Known worldwide as an adventurer, explorer and pioneering producer, his televised exploits have earned him considerable commercial success, as well as universal respect for high-quality, well-researched network and syndicated television specials. He currently co-owns the high-end Titanic Museum Attraction in Branson, Missouri, which he developed and opened in 2006. Joslyn’s second Titanic Museum Attraction opened in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee in 2010 and is “boarding” approximately 100,000 “passengers” each and every month.   Following is a detailed profile of Joslyn’s career and accomplishments.

Joslyn was a network television executive with NBC and CBS for six years before forming Westgate Entertainment Corporation (Westgate) in 1980. Its first projects included the series, Return of the Lone Ranger, and a program covering entertainment news, a popular forerunner of Entertainment Tonight. Syndicated by News Information Weekly Service (NIWS), it attracted an unprecedented 175 subscriber television stations in its first year.

Westgate’s success prompted Universal Pictures to recruit Joslyn in 1981. When the studio pressed him to develop a new marketing strategy for the industry, he pioneered the electronic press kit or EPK, a groundbreaking tool that continues to create marketing buzz for major studio film releases. In the process, Joslyn worked closely with studio executives, top filmmakers and stars, including Steven Spielberg, Ron Howard, Brian Grazer, Mel Gibson, Sylvester Stallone, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Burt Reynolds.

Joslyn then segued into television production in 1986, serving as executive producer for more than a dozen high-profile syndicated and network television specials for NBC, CBS, ABC, the Discovery Channel and The Learning Channel. Two such programs hold records as the highest-rated syndicated specials of all-time: “The Mystery of Al Capone’s Vaults” (1986) and “Return to the Titanic…LIVE” (1987), viewed respectively by 28 million and 22 million households in the U.S. alone. The latter film documents the 1987 Titanic Expedition that Joslyn mounted from his position as co-founder and general manager of Titanic Ventures Limited Partnership, the predecessor of RMS Titanic, Inc.

The 1987 Titanic Expedition was the first to recover and restore artifacts from the ship’s wreck site. As co-expedition leader, Joslyn assembled the best scientists and salvage experts available. The team collaborated with the distinguished French Institute for Research and Exploration of the Sea (Ifremer) to reach Titanic’s final resting place in the North Atlantic. Nautile, Ifremer’s deep-diving submersible, plunged to depths up to 12,500 feet and completed 32 deep-sea dives—the highest number of dives for any televised project.

For more information about the Tennessee Hospitality Association Annual Conference, visit www.tnhospitality.net.

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