Month: April 2012

Freeman Named Senior Account Executive at Ackermann PR

Posted by Ryan Willis – April 30, 2012

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Ackermann PR announced that Erin Freeman has been hired as a Senior Account Executive. Freeman brings several years of qualified experience in public relations with an emphasis in media relations, marketing, and strategic and event planning to the agency. 

“We are thrilled to add Erin to our team as she has expertise in building thoughtful and successful communications plans for a wide variety of clients representing tourism, health care and others,” said President and CEO Cathy Ackermann. “We believe she will add to our position as this region’s leading agency for tourism promotion.” 

Freeman comes to Ackermann from Blount Memorial Hospital where she served as Public Relations Manager. Previously, she served as the Knoxville Tourism and Sports Corporation’s Director of Communications. Additionally, she has worked with several clients, including Cirque Du Soleil, as an independent public relations consultant. 

“Ackermann has a stellar reputation as being a leader in the public relations industry, and I look forward to being part of the team and to helping the firm and its clients achieve success,” said Freeman. 

Freeman is active in the greater Knoxville community and served as the 2011 President of Young Professionals of Knoxville. She currently serves on the University of Tennessee’s Young Alumni Council, and since 2005, she has served as the President of the Knoxville Alpha Delta Pi Alumnae Association and in several different leadership roles in the Junior League of Knoxville. In September 2009, then Tennessee Governor Phil Bredesen recognized Freeman as a Certified Tennessee Tourism Professional (CTTP) and she served as the 2009-10 Vice Chair of the Middle East Tennessee Tourism Council, a 16-county collaborative marketing organization closely associated with the State of Tennessee’s Department of Tourist Development. 

A native of Pulaski, Tenn., Freeman is a graduate of the University of Tennessee-Knoxville. 

Ackermann PR is a full-service marketing and communications firm and is ranked as one of the top 100 PR firms in the country by industry associations and publications.  Clients include Clayton Homes, ALCOA, Honeywell, East Tennessee Medical Group, TechLaw Group, Power Systems, Titanic Museum Attraction and Biltmore mansion, among others. 

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

Stars of Hit Movies Courageous and Fireproof Set to Launch Tour in Knoxville

Posted by admin – April 24, 2012

Knoxville, Tenn. – A life-long marriage is built one courageous step at a time, say the stars of the inspirational film Courageous. Actors Ken Bevel and Robert Amaya will join their wives on a national tour this year to promote the idea that couples can take that next courageous step together. The Courageous Marriage Experience tour will launch at 6 p.m., Saturday, May 5, in Knoxville, Tenn., at Wallace Memorial Baptist Church.

Conversations with the movie’s stars and families will be guided by noted humorists and public speakers Jeff and Debbie McElroy, founders of Forever Families. Marriage workshop attendees will gain insights into the principles of building a healthy marriage, while also hearing about the behind-the-scenes life of making the Sherwood Pictures film Courageous and real-life stories of the actors’ own families.

“We are extremely excited that Knoxville was chosen as the first stop for this summer’s Courageous Marriage Experience tour,” said Jeff McElroy, co-founder of Forever Families. “Not only are Ken and Robert both great actors, but they do a fabulous job of interacting with an audience and will provide great advice on strengthening your marriage.”

The Knoxville event is the first stop of the marriage workshop’s national tour. Advance tickets are available for $22.50 per person. VIP tickets are also available for $35 per person and include a meet-and-greet event with the movie’s stars. Groups of 10 or more may purchase tickets for $20 per person. Tickets will also be available at the door for $25 each. Tickets may be purchased online at www.courageousmarriageexperience.com or by phone at (800) 965-9324.

About Feed Your Faith

Feed Your Faith is a group of evangelical Christians working collaboratively outside and across denominations to engage Christ’s Church in the U.S. They are dedicated to bringing the best Christian speakers, teachers, and artists to engage Christians and non-Christians in our sphere of influence. In turn, the organization is donating the proceeds from its events to local missions and ministries. Their mission is to teach Jesus during their seminars, praise Jesus during their concerts, and to be Jesus to people in the community by assisting area ministries.

About Forever Families

Forever Families is a Knoxville-based ministry impacting families around the world, founded by Jeff and Debby McElroy.  Considered one of the most sought-after couples in the area of marriage and family enrichment, Jeff and Debby offer a variety of conferences that have been used across the nation to revive the family and unite the family of God.  Combine the antics of “tool time,” the hard hitting challenges of Vince Lombardi and the poignancy of a Hallmark commercial and you’ve got the idea of what you’d experience at one of their conferences.

Wilderness at the Smokies to add near-vertical looping waterslide

Posted by Erin Freeman – April 19, 2012

SEVIERVILLE, Tenn. – A trap door….a 39-foot vertical free fall drop….speeds of up to 40 mph…an adrenaline rush like no other – this is what guests at the Southeast’s largest indoor and outdoor waterpark resort will have the opportunity to experience as Wilderness at the Smokies announces yet another exciting expansion project. Wilderness at the Smokies Resort will soon be home to the Wild Vortex, a 66-foot tall AquaLoopTM, the Southeast’s only near-vertical translucent looping waterslide.  The Wild Vortex is scheduled to open June 1, 2012.

Riders of the Wild Vortex will enter the capsule at the top of the ride, standing vertically over a trap door.  Once the

Rendering of Wild Vortex waterslide

An artist's rendering of the design of the Wild Vortex waterslide

trap door is released, the rider accelerates into a 39-foot vertical free fall drop generating maximum g-force (2.5 Gs in less than two seconds) before reaching the inclined loop element.  The entire ride is over within seven seconds.  The Wild Vortex at Wilderness at the Smokies will be the first AquaLoop located in the Southeast and one of only a handful in the U.S.

“Not only will this new attraction significantly change the skyline of our resort, but it will undoubtedly provide our guests with one of the most adrenaline-packed experiences of their lives,” said Steve Cruz, General Manager of Wilderness at the Smokies.  “And thanks to the translucent tube, we expect both riders and spectators to be left breathless following the 7-second thrill ride.”

Since the grand opening in the summer of 2008, the resort has experienced a tremendous amount of growth.  The opening of the Wild Vortex will mark the sixth significant expansion project in the resort’s short history, including the most recent opening of the Adventure Forest family entertainment park in March 2012.  With this continued expansion, Wilderness at the Smokies Resort becomes the second largest tourism investor in Sevier County (second only to Dollywood).

“We have been fortunate to experience a great deal of success since our grand opening nearly four years ago and that is truly a testament to the strong tourism market here in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains, as well as the hard work of our dedicated staff,” said Cruz.  “We look forward to introducing new attractions to our guests in the future and continuing to be the only local attraction where families are able to get everything they are looking for in one place.”

Wilderness at the Smokies, located minutes from Interstate 40 and situated in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains, is one of the area’s only year-round vacation destinations.  With a 36-hole championship golf course, two outdoor waterparks, an indoor waterpark with a wave pool and the Southeast’s only Surf Rider, hot tubs, and countless waterslides and attractions, Wilderness at the Smokies has something for all age groups.  It is adjacent to a 200,000 square-foot conference, convention and event center known for hosting the areas largest conferences, athletic events and trade shows.

The resort is owned by Patrick Helland, Pete Helland, Jr., Tim Lucke and Tom Lucke (who also own Wilderness Territory Waterpark Resort in Wisconsin).  Steve Cruz is the General Manager of Wilderness at the Smokies and Rick Laney is spokesperson for the resort.  For more information about Wilderness at the Smokies, call toll-free 877-325-9453 or visit www.WildernessAtTheSmokies.com.

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Digital images of Wilderness at the Smokies are available to all media.  Contact Ryan Willis at (865) 584-0550 for more information.

Governor Haslam’s Blount Mansion visit showcases effort to save an American treasure

Posted by Erin Freeman – April 19, 2012

Blount Mansion AssociationKnoxville, Tenn. – Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam will visit the historic “Birthplace of Tennessee” on Friday, April 20, to discuss efforts to restore and preserve the site for future generations. Blount Mansion, located in downtown Knoxville, is the 220-year-old home of William Blount, a signer of the U.S. Constitution and an American Founding Father, and has been awarded a Save America’s Treasures grant for $250,000 from the National Park Service. Governor Haslam will discuss the importance of preserving this historic site.

“The mansion was first saved from demolition in 1926 by the founders of the Blount Mansion Association,” said Patricia Brake Rutenberg, Executive Director of Blount Mansion Association. “However, the work of saving the mansion is a daily task. We are honored to have Governor Haslam join us to raise awareness of our campaign to save this important piece of American history.”

The Blount Mansion Association is currently engaged in a capital campaign to raise funds to conserve and restore the house. The Save America’s Treasures grant is one of the largest and most successful grant programs for the protection of our nation’s endangered and irreplaceable cultural heritage. Grants are provided for the preservation and conservation of nationally significant historic sites.

A recent architectural study of the Blount Mansion historic Knoxville site called the home “unquestionably one of theBlount Mansion historic marker most historically important buildings in the state.” The mansion was built in 1792 as the home of William Blount, the governor of the Southwest Territory. The home is notable as the only home of a signer of the U.S. Constitution located outside the original thirteen states. The constitution forming the state of Tennessee was written in Governor Blount’s office on the site, earning the home its nickname as the “Birthplace of Tennessee.” It is the only historic site in Knoxville designated as a National Historic Landmark by the U.S. Department of the Interior.

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About Blount Mansion Association: The Blount Mansion Association was founded in 1926 to save the historic Blount Mansion, home of William Blount. Blount was a delegate to the nation’s first Constitutional Convention, a signer of the U.S. Constitution, Territorial Governor of the Southwest Territory and Tennessee’s first U.S. Senator. The Blount Mansion Association is a non-profit, educational organization dedicated to preserving Blount Mansion and inspiring an appreciation of national, state and local history through the site and lives of those who lived and worked there. For additional information about Blount Mansion, visit the association’s website at www.blountmansion.org.

Media Contact:
Shane Rhyne
(865) 584-0550
srhyne@ackermannpr.com

Girl Scouts set to “rock out” World’s Fair Park

Posted by admin – April 13, 2012

Melinda Caroll

Knoxville, Tenn. – On Saturday, April 28, hundreds of Girl Scouts from the Southern Appalachians region are expected to “rock out” World’s Fair Park when they attend the Girl Scouts 100th Anniversary Knoxville Sing-Along. The event, produced by Girl Scout Council of the Southern Appalachians (GSCSA), is scheduled to take place on April 28 from noon to 4 p.m.

The event is open to the public, regardless of any current or past involvement with Girl Scouts. All members of the community are welcome to come join in a day full of family-friendly fun for all ages.

So, what’s a Sing-Along? It’s a casual gathering for group singing; and it’s a favorite pastime of Girl Scouts everywhere. In fact, since the Girl Scout movement was founded by Juliette Gordon Low in 1912, girls have used singing to celebrate friendship and their commitment to girls’ leadership.

This particular Sing-Along will feature Girl Scout “Songstress” Melinda Caroll, a composer, producer, performer, recording artist and lifetime Girl Scouts member. She has been the inspirational creative force behind music for Girl Scouts since 1989.

The Sing-Along will feature songs that anyone who sang campfire songs as a child will remember. In addition to music, the event will include inflatables, face painting, games, magic, crafts and concessions.

“We celebrated the Girl Scouts organization’s 100th anniversary on March 12, and we have several events planned over the next few months to keep the excitement high,” said Booth Kammann, CEO of GSCSA. “A Sing-Along is a perfect way for our girls to celebrate entering the next century of Girl Scouting.”

Pre-registration is requested and is available online at http://www.girlscoutcsa.org/events/225. Tickets for the event are $10 per person through pre-registration and $15 at the gate. Children ages four and under will be admitted free.

The event is sponsored in part by B97.5, Knoxville News Sentinel, Pilot Travel Centers and First Tennessee.

The media is invited to attend. If you are interested in setting up interviews and/or attending the event, please contact Sarah Pope at spope@ackermannpr.com or (865) 584-0550 (office).

Visit www.GirlScoutcsa.org to learn more about this event and the 100th Anniversary of Girl Scouting.

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About Girl Scout Council of the Southern Appalachians
The Girl Scout Council of the Southern Appalachians serves nearly 20,000 girl and adult members stretching from North Georgia to Southwest Virginia. Service centers are located in Chattanooga, Knoxville and Johnson City. The organization’s mission is to build girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place. The council offers financial assistance to ensure that every girl who wants to be a Girl Scout has the opportunity to join this vibrant organization.

Media Contact:
Sarah Pope, Ackermann PR                                                                                                
Phone: (865) 584-0550
Email: spope@ackermannpr.com

Power Systems says top selling fitness training equipment points to industry changes

Posted by Erin Freeman – April 13, 2012

Knoxville, Tenn. – A report released by Power Systems, the industry’s leading provider of sports and fitness training accessory equipment, points to some significant changes in the types of fitness training being offered by personal trainers and fitness clubs and the experiences fitness enthusiasts are looking for today.

The report, which reflects product sales trends over the past twelve months, shows that the top five selling fitness accessory equipment products include resistance tubing and bands, medicine balls, kettlebells, fitness and exercise mats, and dumbbells.  Body weight suspension systems also represent a product category that is growing significantly in popularity.

“These product trends are being driven by the rapidly growing popularity of cross-training and functional training,” commented Power Systems President, Julie Pauletto.  “The training changes we are seeing include the movement by personal trainers to focus on ‘boot camps’ while the national fitness clubs and chains are focusing on developing more ‘small group training’ classes.  The top selling products are the primary training products used for both the boot camps and small group training.  This type of training and these products are rapidly becoming an incremental and profitable revenue source for trainers and clubs in what has become a highly competitive environment for clients and members.”

Power Systems’ SpaceStation™ is an innovative response to the growing popularity of body weight suspension systems.  The SpaceStation is a multi-purpose training tool providing multiple stations for body weight and suspended exercises in a limited area.

“The SpaceStation system represents how we have tried to address the reality of today’s business environment for club owners,” said Bruno Pauletto, CEO of Power Systems.  “Clubs need to expand their offerings but cannot necessarily expand their physical floor plan.  SpaceStation helps them meet their business goal while maximizing space in the club.”

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About Power Systems: Power Systems is the  fitness and sports accessory equipment industry leader committed to making a real difference in the health, fitness and performance needs of people at every level of experience. Since its founding in 1986, Power Systems has been recognized for its standards in customer service, product selection, and on-time delivery.  The company is headquartered in Knoxville, Tennessee. For additional information about Power Systems, visit their website at www.power-systems.com.

Media Contact:
Shane Rhyne
(865) 584-0550
srhyne@ackermannpr.com

East Tennessee Medical Group Receives Accreditation for CT Scanners

Posted by Lisa Hood Skinner – April 10, 2012

                                                                                                                                                                                                          

ETMG Diagnostics Department Receives CT Accreditation

 

ALCOA, Tenn. — The use of computed tomography (CT) scanners in the diagnostics department of East Tennessee Medical Group (ETMG) is now accredited through the Intersocietal Accreditation for Computed Tomography (IAC CT).

“ETMG continues to be recognized for the state-of-the-art technology it provides to the people of East Tennessee,” said Ron German, ETMG CEO.

The accreditation process, part of the Intersocietal Accreditation Commission (IAC), includes detailed inspections of the medical equipment and facility, including evaluations of testing procedures for specific computed technology. To receive CT accreditation, technology must exceed all requirements for quality professional care as designated by IAC.

 IAC CT currently accredits facilities in all 50 states. Charles Ashworth, ETMG ancillary services director, said ETMG’s vascular ultrasound, nuclear cardiology and echocardiography labs, all located at 266 Joule Street, Alcoa are also accredited with IAC. Additionally, the ETMG Center for Sleep Medicine, located at 710 Morganton Square Drive, Maryville, is accredited by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM).

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 (3864) or visit its website at www.etmg.net.

CONTACT: Charles B. Ashworth

Director of Ancillary Services

865.268.1323      

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Titanic Museum Attraction bridges generations in centennial tribute event

Posted by Erin Freeman – April 5, 2012

PIGEON FORGE, Tenn. and BRANSON, Mo. – The last of Titanic’s original survivors are gone, but the desire to connect with the tragedy’s heroes and victims 100 years later is as strong as ever. The Titanic Museum Attraction is bridging the gap between centuries through the only formal U.S. ceremonies and tribute to the ship, its passengers and crew. The tribute program will be staged on Saturday, April 14, at the Titanic Museum Attractions in Missouri and Tennessee under the watchful eyes of children and grandchildren of those aboard the ship 100 years ago, providing a living connection one of the 20th centuries most captivating stories. The program will begin at noon (Central) at Titanic Museum in Branson, Missouri, and 8:30 p.m. (Eastern) at Titanic Museum Attraction in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee.

“A Night to Remember: An Original Musical Tribute to Titanic” is a professionally-staged production including the inspiring voices of choirs, the haunting sounds of bagpipes, and comforting words of tribute in honor of the 2,208 people aboard the ship a century ago.

“We wanted the ceremonies to be respectful of the memory of those who were aboard, regardless of their fate,” said John Joslyn, co-owner of the Titanic Museum Attraction and co-leader of the first private expedition to visit the ship’s final resting place on the ocean floor. “We are honored by the many descendants of the ship’s crew and passengers who have chosen to attend our ceremony.”

While many living descendants of Titanic are most commonly found among the great-grandchildren of the ship’s passengers and crew, grandchildren are becoming a rare breed. Rarer still is a living child of the descendants, but Branson will host one of the few remaining children of the ship’s original passengers and crew when Pearl Leemhuis takes her seat at the museum’s ceremonies. Pearl’s mother, Bertha Lehmann was a 17-year-old passenger leaving Switzerland to join her family in Iowa.

Among the descendants attending the tribute in Pigeon Forge will be the grandson of Charles Lightoller, the most senior Titanic crew member to survive the disaster. Timothy Lightoller and his wife are making the trip from their native Scotland to be a part of the tribute.

One of the ship’s most famous passengers, Margaret Brown—known to many as “the unsinkable Molly Brown”—will be represented in Pigeon Forge by her granddaughter, Helen Benziger. Descendants of Isidor and Ida Straus will also be present to pay respects to their ancestors who perished aboard the ship. Isidor Straus was the co-owner with his brother of Macy’s Department Store in New York.

The tribute ceremonies will include performances by choirs, musicians and children as well as a parade of flags, poetry readings, and the lighting of an eternal flame in remembrance of the people aboard Titanic.

Tickets to “A Night to Remember: An Original Musical Tribute to Titanic” are available through the Titanic Museum Attractions in Missouri and Tennessee. Visitors may purchase tickets by phone at (800) 381-7670. In addition to museum admission and the musical production, ticket holders will receive limited edition memorials dedicated to the ship’s history, including a DVD containing video tributes of the personal stories of selected passengers and crew.

The Titanic Museum Attractions – the home base for the U.S. RMS Titanic 100 Year Anniversary Commemoration

The Titanic Museum Attractions are located in Branson, Missouri, and Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. Together, the two museums represent the largest permanent monuments in the world dedicated to the memory of Titanic. The museums, immediately recognizable for their ship-shape design, are home to hundreds of artifacts from the ship and its survivors. “Passengers” experience what it was like to walk the hallways, parlors, cabins and Grand Staircase of the Titanic while surrounded by artifacts and exhibits that tell the story of the ship’s history and fate.

Since its opening in 2006, Titanic Branson has welcomed more than 5 million “passengers” aboard the museum. Titanic Pigeon Forge opened in 2010 and has already welcomed 2 million visitors. For additional information about the museums, visit www.titanicattraction.com

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Editors:  For more information, for high-res museum photos, or to schedule interviews or visits to the museums, please contact Rick Laney or Shane Rhyne at (865) 584-0550.