Author:

Shane Rhyne

Clayton Homes Offers Military Personnel Exclusive Upgrades

Posted by Shane Rhyne – May 28, 2010

Clayton Homes logo

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – (May 28, 2010) – While service men and women are away serving our country, they go months without many of the daily conveniences afforded by waking up each morning in their homes.  Recognizing this sacrifice, Clayton Homes is introducing the “Salute Our Troops” promotion, offering military personnel an option upgrade with a new home purchase between May 31 and July 4.

There are five different option upgrades available with a new home purchase.  New homeowners may choose the Energy Package upgrade, which includes a programmable thermostat and heat pump, while other upgrades include a 42” flat screen TV, Glamour Bath upgrade, or a Dream Kitchen Upgrade.  The final offer is a backyard entertainment package, featuring an 8’x 8’ back deck or a gas grill.

“We wanted to do something special to honor the brave men and women of our Armed Forces who have sacrificed so much for our nation,” said Chris Nicely, Clayton Homes Zone Manager.  “This promotion is a way for our company to express our appreciation and say ‘thank you’ to all those who served and continue to serve our country, along with each of their families.”

The “Salute Our Troops” promotion is open to all active, discharged and retired military personnel, along with National Guard and Reserve Government employees.  The promotion is being offered between May 31 and July 4 at participating Clayton retailers in Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Ohio and Kentucky.

For more information about the “Salute the Troops” promotion, visit the web page at www.2SaluteOurTroops.com or the Facebook page at http://tinyurl.com/36hqnpk.

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About Clayton Homes:  Clayton Homes is a national, vertically integrated housing company. Through its family of brands, Clayton Homes builds, sells, finances, leases, and insures a full spectrum of affordable housing and is the nation’s number one retailer of modular and manufactured homes.

Media contact
Mike Cohen, Ackermann PR
(865) 584-0550

Boy Scouts Welcome New Chief

Posted by Shane Rhyne – March 18, 2010

KNOXVILLE, TN (March 18, 2010) — The Great Smokies Mountain Council of the Boy Scouts of America has a new Scout Executive.

Larry Brown comes to Knoxville from Tulsa, Oklahoma. A group of local Scout volunteers and supporters chose him from three finalists, all of whom were already Scout professionals.

“We felt like Larry would be an exceptionally good fit for East Tennessee,” said Council President Bob Talbott. “He understands our region; he shares our values and is committed to the 21 counties that we serve.”

“Obviously it’s a great honor to lead a Council with the history and continuous stability of the Great Smoky Mountains,” said Brown. “I hope to be here a very long time.”

Brown has been with the Scouts since 1986 having worked in Tallahassee and Tampa Florida, then Greenville and Columbia, South Carolina. For the past several years he has been the BSA’s Southern Region Area Director, supporting 9 different councils in Arkansas and Oklahoma.

“His understanding of our needs, both to serve young men and to attend to the business side of the Council were very important to us,” said Talbott.

“I look forward to working with our Scouts, Scout staff and volunteers all across East Tennessee,” said Brown. “I also look forward to backpacking the mountains with my family.”

Brown lists backpacking with his two daughters and time with his wife Carol as favorite pastimes, along with golf and tennis.

Brown has a BS degree in Computer Information Systems from Jacksonville State University, where he played on the 1985 NCAA Division II National Basketball Championship team.

Brown takes over from Ken Melhorn, who accepted a position as Scout Executive with the Council that serves the San Francisco area.

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MEDIA NOTE: Brown has started his new job and is available for interviews. A digital image is available upon request.

For more information contact:
Mike Cohen, Ackermann PR
865-584-0550 office/865-659-4750 cell
MCohen@AckermannPR.com

Tennessee State Legislators Mark National Colon Cancer Month with Briefing on Revolutionary New Colon Cancer Test

Posted by Shane Rhyne – March 17, 2010

Nashville, TN – (March 17,2010) – EDP Biotech, a Knoxville-based company today briefed Tennessee state legislators on its revolutionary ColoMarker™ colon cancer test which potentially could save 50,000 lives and more than $12 billion in healthcare costs annually in the U.S.  Legislators were also provided the opportunity to personally experience the ColoMarker™ test by enrolling in the control study group for EDP’s latest research.  The briefing and test were scheduled to coincide with National Colon Cancer Month, which is being observed throughout March 2010.

The company’s innovative colon cancer test has the potential to save thousands of lives each year through a simple blood test.  By measuring a unique biomarker discovered by EDP Biotech and a testing process that utilizes inexpensive existing technology, ColoMarker™ has shown a greater than 99% accuracy rate for detecting colon cancer in the most treatable stages (I, II and III).  This can be accomplished at a cost that should make ColoMarker accessible and affordable to all individuals.

“The State of Tennessee has one of the highest incidence rates of and mortality rates for colon cancer in the United States.  As a Tennessee-based company actively addressing this devastating disease, we wanted to make the state’s legislators aware of ColoMarker™ and the impact it can have on people’s lives and the U.S. healthcare system”, stated Dr. Kevin Jones, EDP Biotech, Chief Scientific Officer.  “Some 1200 Tennesseans lose their battle with colon cancer each year.  Most of these lives could have been saved with early detection.  Based on the encouraging results of our pre-clinical trials, we believe ColoMarker™ can be used for early detection, which will reduce colon cancer deaths in Tennessee and throughout the world.”

Early detection of colon cancer will save lives.  Yet, less than 20% of Americans who should be screened by colonoscopy actually are.  The ColoMarker™ test has the ability to reduce the physical, psychological and financial barriers to early screening.  EDP Biotech has achieved a significant milestone in developing a simple blood test that will have the potential to reach people who otherwise would not participate in more invasive screening procedures.

“EDP Biotech and its ColoMarker™ product is an excellent example of companies in Tennessee who are making significant contributions to our state, our country and the world”, commented State Representative Joe Armstrong, who is Chairman of the House Health and Human Services Committee.  “Through today’s briefing and the opportunity for Tennessee legislators to take the ColoMarker™ test, we are clearly demonstrating that the State of Tennessee is very serious about reducing mortality rates and healthcare costs for colon cancer.”

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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.

Media Contact
Jeff Hooper
Ackermann PR
(865) 584-0550
jhooper@ackermannpr.com

Tennessee company holds the keys to improved port security

Posted by Shane Rhyne – March 9, 2010

Knoxville, TN (March 9, 2010) – More than $12 trillion in merchandise is shipped annually using approximately 200 million intermodal containers, according to a recent cargo security study. Merchandise shipped via these containers includes items of high street value including cigarettes, pharmaceuticals, computers and other high tech devices, consumer electronics, and more. However, each year, approximately $50 billion worth of merchandise in these containers is lost to theft, fraud, and vandalism. In the end, the costs of theft and inefficiencies, along with the potential costs of security risks are passed along to the consumer.

Far away from the busy seaports, however, a company in Tennessee is hard at work developing a high tech solution that will free businesses from having to choose between cargo shipping efficiency and homeland security. The company, TrakLok Corporation, has developed the GeoLok™, a locking system for containers that not only monitors the container’s location as it travels, but also can refuse to open itself until the container has arrived safely at its intended destination. It is a seemingly simple idea, yet one that has the potential to impact 90% of all global trade.

Knoxville-based TrakLok Corporation announced today it has been received venture funding from Innova Memphis as part of the Tennessee Investment Company Credit Act (TNInvestco) in order to expand its efforts to bring its innovative tracking and security system to market at a time of increased attention to the importance of port security.  The funding will allow the company to continue set-up of its manufacturing process and to make critical sales and marketing hires. “We have been watching TrakLok since the Tennessee Innovation Conference organized by TTDC in late 2008. Since then, the company has made enormous progress on a very tight budget – we like companies that know how to stretch a dollar.” says Jan Bouten, Partner at Innova Memphis. “The company’s portable GeoLok brings an unprecedented level of visibility and security to the logistics industry and can save manufacturers and shipping companies billions per year.”

Formed in 2008, TrakLok has developed a series of patents to create an electronic lock system to combat theft, smuggling, and vandalism to the millions of cargo containers arriving at ports and rail yards throughout the world. The locks can deny or allow entry to a protected container based on a combination of time, location, and authorization codes.

The high-tech lock system also allows companies to track and locate containers, improving efficiency and reducing losses related to spoilage, misplaced containers, and related shipping delays.

“This award represents the important role TrakLok can play in improving homeland security at our nation’s shipping ports and improving business efficiency at the same time,” said Eric Dobson, TrakLok CEO and co-developer of the TrakLok concept. “Innova Memphis singled our business out for this funding because of the strength of our management team and the viability of our product in the marketplace.  We are thrilled to become the first TNInvestment.”

Eligible businesses for funding through the TNInvestco pool must be independently owned and operated Tennessee-based businesses with at least 60% of the company workforce located in the state. The funds are targeted to Tennessee businesses developing transformational technology.

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Media Contact
Shane Rhyne, Ackermann PR
(865) 584-0550

About TrakLok Corporation

TrakLok Corporation’s mission is to commercialize products and services into the global shipping industry to revolutionize both cargo security and efficiency in order to return value to its shareholders. The company offers products that provide physical security and global visibility for highly mobile cargo and containers. Using physical security technologies, wireless communications, and wireless sensor networking, the GeoLok™ and TrakLog™ solution provides lock-tight security with total asset visibility for high value and high interest shipments throughout the world. The company was founded in 2008 and is headquartered in Knoxville, Tennessee. For additional information about TrakLok and its products, visit online at http://www.traklok.com

About Innova Memphis

Innova is a pre-seed, seed and early-stage investor focused on starting and funding high-growth companies in the biosciences, technology and agbio fields across the state of Tennessee. Through its relationship with the Memphis Bioworks Foundation, Innova provides entrepreneurs with access to incubator facilities, training and mentoring, industry networks and seasoned executives. For more information, visit www.innovamemphis.com.

Food or heat or health care?

Posted by Shane Rhyne – February 19, 2010

Thousands of East Tennesseans face this decision daily

Second Harvest logoKnoxville, TN – It is a frightening sign of our troubled economy. Every night in East Tennessee more than 245,500 people go to bed not sure if they will have food to eat in the next few days. Many of them are families with children.

Every month more than 16,000 of our neighbors must choose between buying food and paying for heat. Almost the same number faces choosing between food and health care.

These are the hard realities discovered during a national survey on hunger. Second Harvest Food Bank of East Tennessee participated in the study, which was conducted on behalf of Feeding America, the national organization of which Second Harvest is a member.

“We know the demand for food continues to grow,” said Elaine Streno, Executive Director of Second Harvest.  “I’m not sure we fully realized just how dire things are for so many people across 18 counties, from the plateau to the mountains.”

Many of those in need are just average folks. Only 8 percent of the 36,800 different people helped in a week are homeless and almost a quarter of those helped are in households where there is at least one employed adult.

“People are working and still unsure they can feed their family,” said Streno. “That’s a situation than can leave a person almost hopeless.”

The impact of Second Harvest is deep. Second Harvest supplies an average of 78% of the food distributed by area pantries, 67% of the food distributed by kitchens, and 54% of the food distributed by shelters. Group homes and many service organizations also get their food from Second Harvest.

“What it all means to us is this: more and more people need food and we will need to raise more money to meet that need,” says Streno. “Even though we can provide three meals for only a dollar, the task before us is still daunting.”

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.  The service area includes Anderson, Blount, Campbell, Claiborne , Cocke, Cumberland, Fentress, Grainger, Hamblen, Jefferson, Knox, Loudon, Monroe, Morgan, Roane, Scott, Sevier and Union Counties.

Media Contact:
Elaine Streno
(865) 850-4284

Revolutionary Clayton i-house arrives in Charleston, SC

Posted by Shane Rhyne – February 2, 2010

CHARLESTON, South Carolina – (February 2, 2010) – The new, Energy Star™ rated i-house from Clayton Homes has arrived in the Charleston area and can now be viewed, toured and purchased at Clayton Homes of N. Charleston. The model i-house – one of only a few nationwide – was built at Clayton’s Richfield facility.

The eco-friendly Clayton i-house, which is now available for purchase, launched nationally at thei-house exterior 1 in high res Berkshire-Hathaway Shareholders Meeting in Omaha, Neb. on May 2, 2009 when Warren Buffett showed the i-house to attendees. Since that time, the i-house has been featured on numerous national cable television news shows and in newspapers and magazines across the country.

The i-house is Energy Star™ rated, which means the home is at least 30 percent more energy efficient according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Although home buyers are likely to first notice the stylish design, cutting-edge color combinations and modern furnishings, the i-house also features solar panels, a rain water catchment system, high-end “low e” windows, a tankless water heater, low-flow faucets, easily renewable bamboo flooring and many other energy saving items.

“The i-house will change the way people look at our products and housing in general,” said Kevin Clayton, CEO of Clayton Homes. “We build these homes in a controlled environment away from the weather, so there’s a huge quality benefit simply because of how we build a home. We also have far less scrap in our building process than a traditional home, so there are tremendous cost savings we pass along to the homebuyer.”

Built with an exterior of cement board and architectural metal, the home’s most distinctive feature is the V-shaped roof over the primary living space that includes the i-house’s rainwater catchment system and solar panels. The primary living area includes a kitchen, bathroom and bedroom, and a deck connects it to a separate living area that features a bedroom or den, a full bath and a roof-top patio.

Clayton Homes says the i-house’s energy costs are less than $70 a month, but that figure drops to less than one dollar per day when the optional solar panel system is installed.

The i-house is consistent with the overall environmental focus at Clayton Homes, which is in the process of obtaining LEED certification – the national benchmark for eco-friendly design – at its Tennessee headquarters. Clayton has cut energy costs at its offices by 28 percent over the last two years, and has already started implementing many of the “green” features of the i-house into its traditional homes.

Although the i-house is expected to be a popular primary residence, it is also drawing considerable interest from people who wish to have a second home or vacation home because of its affordability, unique design and energy efficiency. The $8,000 first-time homebuyer’s tax credit, is expected to attract many first-time homebuyers, many of whom will be drawn to the modern design and energy efficiency of the i-house. More information is available at http://claytonihouse.com.

Clayton, the nation’s largest homebuilder, has built 1.5 million homes since 1934. Clayton homes are precision-built in 35 state-of-the-art, climate-controlled facilities strategically located throughout the United States.

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About Clayton Homes: A Berkshire-Hathaway Company, Clayton Homes is a national, vertically integrated housing company. Through its family of brands, Clayton Homes builds, sells, finances, leases, and insures a full spectrum of affordable housing and is the nation’s leader in housing.  Visit Clayton Homes at www.claytonhomes.com.

The i-house can be viewed, toured and purchased at Clayton Homes of N. Charleston, 6581 Rivers Ave. North Charleston, SC 29418. For more information call Allison Blankenship at (843) 572-6742.

For additional information/photos, contact:
Ryan Willis
rwillis@ackermannpr.com
(865) 584-0550

HGTV signs popular mom blogger for on-air and online content development

Posted by Shane Rhyne – January 22, 2010

hgtv

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — HGTV has signed Heather Armstrong of dooce.com, recognized as America’s most popular “mommyblogger,” to an exclusive programming development deal in which she will work with HGTV’s online and on-air production teams to create innovative convergence programming for the network.

“We are thrilled to have Heather join the HGTV family,” said HGTV president, Jim Samples. “Not only is she one of the world’s best known bloggers and parenting writers, with a unique and hilarious voice, she’s also a talented designer and photographer. She’s clearly a great fit for us and our audience.”

Armstrong will play a starring role in HGTV’s social media-driven audience engagement initiatives, while continuing to blog at dooce.com.

“I am thrilled to be partnering with HGTV in the upcoming year and have been a huge fan of the network for many years,” said Armstrong.  “In fact, I spent the first three months of my second child’s life watching every episode of Curb Appeal and Designed to Sell, and now if called upon I could stage a house within an inch of its life. I’ve been looking to grow my business beyond its online presence, and having been approached by other media brands before I can confidently say that there is no better partner than HGTV to help me take this step.”
The network plans to unveil the details of Heather Armstrong’s HGTV platform in spring of 2010. Viewers and online users can get more information on HGTV.com/Heather, Facebook/HGTV.com, and via Twitter at @HGTVOfficial.

“There are numerous opportunities by which Heather’s many talents will come to life, and we’ve been collaborating with her on a menu of them,” said Samples. “We think that both her audience and ours will be excited by what we have in store.”

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About HGTV

HGTV, America’s leader in home and lifestyle programming, is distributed to more than 98 million U.S. households and is one of cable’s top-rated networks.  HGTV’s website, HGTV.com, is the nation’s leading online home-and-garden destination, which attracts an average of more than 4 million unique visitors per month. For more information, visit www.HGTV.com.

About Heather Armstrong

Heather B. Armstrong of dooce.com is widely acknowledged to be the most popular “mommyblogger” in the world. She has more than 1.6 million followers on Twitter, and was recently named by Forbes Magazine as one of the 30 most influential women in media, along with Diane Sawyer, Kelly Ripa and Oprah Winfrey. She has been profiled in the Wall Street Journal and the New York Times, and she’s appeared as a guest on Oprah, The Bonnie Hunt Show and CNN. Armstrong is the author of the 2009 New York Times bestselling book, It Sucked and Then I Cried: How I Had a Baby, a Breakdown, and a Much Needed Margarita. Armstrong lives in Salt Lake City with her husband, Jon Armstrong, their two young daughters, and two dogs, Chuck and Coco.

Contact:
Audrey Adlam, HGTV
212-549-8599 / adlam@hgtv.com

Ruby Tuesday to partner with Penske Racing as sponsor of the No. 22 Nationwide Series Dodge in 2010

Posted by Shane Rhyne – January 20, 2010

RT_Unstacked_Red&Black.187C

MARYVILLE, TN (January 19, 2010) – Ruby Tuesday has established a new partnership with Penske Racing for the 2010 NASCAR Nationwide Series season. Ruby Tuesday will serve as primary sponsor for six races on the No. 22 Dodge driven by series standout Brad Keselowski.

“Ruby Tuesday provides the finest in casual dining and we are excited to welcome them as a Penske Racing partner in 2010,” said Roger Penske. “Our organization shares Ruby Tuesday’s core values of quality, passion and pride, and with Brad behind the wheel, we believe this will be a winning combination in 2010.”

2010 Nascar Media Tour Day 1The specific races where Ruby Tuesday will serve as primary sponsor of the car have yet to be determined, but the No. 22 Ruby Tuesday Dodge is expected to make its debut as primary sponsor at the Richmond International Raceway race on April 30. Ruby Tuesday will be an associate sponsor of the team for the remaining 2010 Nationwide Series races.

“Both Penske Racing and Brad Keselowski have a proven track record of winning and we look forward to being a big part of their continued success this season,” said Mark Young, Ruby Tuesday Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer. The partnership with Penske Racing marks Ruby Tuesday’s first entry into NASCAR competition.

After finishing third in the Nationwide Series championship standings in each of the last two seasons, Keselowski is expected to be a top contender for the 2010 title in his first season with Penske Racing. A winner of six series races from 2008-09, Keselowski will compete for the full Nationwide Series season in the No. 22 Dodge for Penske Racing.

“I’m really excited to race in the Ruby Tuesday Dodge and I’m proud to represent their brand, their associates and their restaurants,” said Keselowski. “They are a terrific company with great food and a fun atmosphere. I know our team and I will be visiting their restaurants a lot this season as we travel the NASCAR circuit.”

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About Ruby Tuesday

Ruby Tuesday, Inc. has company-owned and/or franchise Ruby Tuesday brand restaurants in 46 states, the District of Columbia, Guam, and 13 foreign countries. As of December 1, 2009, the

Company owned and operated 670 Ruby Tuesday restaurants, while domestic and international franchisees (including Hawaii) operated 171 and 55 restaurants, respectively. Ruby Tuesday, Inc. is traded on the New York Stock Exchange (Symbol: RT).

For information about Ruby Tuesday, please visit the company website at www.rubytuesday.com or on Facebook at www.facebook/rubytuesday.

About Penske Racing

In 2010, Penske Racing will compete in the NASCAR Cup Series with former Cup Series champion Kurt Busch and the No. 2 Miller Lite Dodge, former three-time IndyCar Series champion Sam Hornish Jr. in the No. 77 Mobil 1 Dodge and Brad Keselowski in the No. 12 Penske Dodge. The team will also race in the Nationwide Series with Justin Allgaier, the 2009 series Rookie of the Year, in the No. 12 Verizon Wireless Dodge and multiple race-winner Keselowski driving the No. 22 Discount Tire and Ruby Tuesday Dodge. Competing in a variety of disciplines, cars owned and prepared by Penske Racing have produced more than 310 major race wins, over 370 pole positions and 22 national championships.

For more information about Penske Racing, please visit www.penskeracing.com.

Media Contacts

Sandi Stablein
Ruby Tuesday, Inc.
(865) 379-5700
Jonathan Gibson
Penske Racing
(704) 799-8301

Clayton Homes, H&R Block Team Up to Make Home Ownership Easier

Posted by Shane Rhyne – January 5, 2010

Clayton Homes Logo

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – (January 5, 2010) – Just months after Congress extended the tax credit for first time homebuyers, the nation’s largest homebuilder and the nation’s largest tax services provider are teaming up to make the transition to home ownership easier.

The partnership between Clayton Homes and H&R Block means people can easily use their tax refund to move into home ownership by purchasing a Clayton home.

“With the federal government both extending and expanding the tax credit for home buyers, with mortgage rates extremely low and with Clayton able to offer financing directly, this is a historic opportunity for more people to become homeowners,” said Kevin Clayton, President and CEO of Clayton Homes.

“From seniors looking to downsize, to families wanting to move, to those shopping for their first home, this credit paves the way for more people to positively impact their taxes through the benefits of homeownership,” said Dave Mullin, Marketing Manager for H&R Block.

There are clear long term tax advantages to owning a home as opposed to renting:

  • The interest you pay is tax deductible.
  • Your local property taxes are deductible.
  • Some loan costs, such as Private Mortgage Insurance, are deductible.

There’s no question that becoming a homeowner is a smart move. The latest data from the Federal Reserve Board shows families that own homes are worth more money and save more money.

Clayton homes are an excellent value for those looking to become homeowners and can often be financed so that the monthly mortgage payment is comparable to rent payments.

“We don’t know of a better way to deliver this message to people than when they are truly focused on finances, so a partnership between our companies makes perfect sense,” says Clayton.

Information on the program is available at Clayton Homes Sales Centers across the country.

Clayton, a Berkshire-Hathaway Company, has built more than a million homes since 1934.  More information is available at www.claytonhomes.com.

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About Clayton Homes: A Berkshire-Hathaway Company, Clayton Homes is a national, vertically integrated housing company. Through its family of brands, Clayton Homes builds, sells, finances, leases, and insures a full spectrum of affordable housing and is the nation’s number one retailer of modular and manufactured homes.

Media Contacts
Clayton Homes
Mike Cohen
Ackermann PR
(865) 584-0550
mcohen@ackermannpr.com

Radio Systems Corporation partners with University of Tennessee to promote study of clinical animal behavior

Posted by Shane Rhyne – January 4, 2010

DorrieKnoxville, TN (January 4, 2010) – The University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine has announced a partnership with Radio Systems Corporation to create the PetSafe Chair in Clinical Animal Behavior.

The new faculty position, funded through support from Radio Systems, will help future veterinarians be better equipped through their training to understand companion animal behaviors.

Full details are available on the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine’s web site.

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Media Contact
Mike Cohen
(865) 584-0550
mcohen@ackermannpr.com