Category: Uncategorized

Titanic Snow Princess Brings Holiday Magic to the Mountains

Posted by Rick Laney – November 22, 2011

Titanic Museum Attraction's "Snow Princess"

Pigeon Forge, TN – The folklore of the Smokies tell of mystical characters traveling through the misty woods, bringing the winter snow and frost with them as they paint the region in sparkling crystal. From across the Atlantic, a new personality has arrived to bring the fantasies of the season to life in the mountains as the Titanic Museum Attraction welcomes the Titanic Snow Princess for the first time ever to the Smokies. With each magical visit, the princess’ arrival will be heralded with real, falling snow from the great ship’s bow.

“The Titanic Snow Princess is a shining star for this year’s Titanic Christmas in Winter Wonderland,” says John Joslyn, expedition leader of the first private exploration dive to the Titanic and owner of the Titanic Museum Attraction. “She represents the magic and mystery of the holiday season common to children in 1912 and today.”

The Titanic Snow Princess brings the fairy tale legends of her own home across the waters to the peaks and forests of the Great Smoky Mountains, delivering holiday enchantment beginning Thanksgiving weekend (Thursday, Friday and Saturday Thanksgiving week only at 6 p.m.) and continuing every Saturday evening at 6 p.m. through December 17 at the Titanic Museum Attraction in Pigeon Forge. The Snow Princess will arrive by horse-drawn carriage and, with the wave of her hand, will light the winter night with thousands of Christmas lights and decorations aboard the Titanic as the invisible sprites of the mountains magically create a snowfall from the ship’s bow to welcome the fairy tale royalty.

The Titanic Christmas in Winter Wonderland extravaganza features thousands of holiday lights, Edwardian-period decorations, costumed merry-markers, a magical Gift Shoppe brimming with original, one-of-a-kind gifts and a return of last year’s crowd favorite, the legendary weekend snowfall.

“Every day, but especially at Christmas, we remember and honor the men, women and children who sailed on the Titanic. At this special time, our guests truly experience what it was like onboard the ship in 1912, and how it might have looked on a Christmas voyage almost 100 years ago,” says Joslyn.

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

Cedar Bay Entertainment, LLC owns and operates the 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. Titanic Branson has welcomed more than four million guests and Titanic Pigeon Forge boards approximately 100,000 “passengers” each month.

###

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

Alcoa Inc. employees promote recycling to UT’s ‘sailgaters’

Posted by Ryan Willis – November 4, 2011

Knoxville, Tenn. – Alcoa Inc. volunteers ‘gathered by the river’ on Oct. 29 to help spread the word about aluminum can recycling before the University of Tennessee versus South Carolina college football game.

Alcoa volunteers (from left to right) Walt Brockway, Robin Brockway, Time Reyes and Paige Rose prepare to distribute blue bags and bins to tailgaters and "sailgaters" among the Vol Navy. The recycling event ended Alcoa's Month of Service with a promotion to encourage increased recycling away from home.

Building on the success of its “Let’s Tackle Recycling” program with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Alcoa volunteers talked about the importance of recycling to both tailgaters and “sailgaters” who are part of the storied “Vol Navy.”  The University of Tennessee is famous for its fleet of fans who boat up and down the Tennessee River to party before and after college football games.  Known as the “Vol Navy,” they are famous for big boats and big parties.

“Cans are the package of choice for boaters.  We want people to get in the habit of recycling wherever they’re using cans – at home, or away from home,” said Beth Schmitt, director of recycling programs for Alcoa Inc.  “In particular, we know more cans are typically used at special events like tailgate parties or boat outings.  Reaching people in this environment is a good way to remind them to separate their beverage cans for recycling no matter where they are.” 

Alcoa volunteers gave boaters blue bags for beverage containers used before the game, and take-home bins for future use on the boat or at home.  Filled blue bags were collected for recycling just before game time.  The collection program was preceded by an informative email blast to members of the Vol Navy Boaters Association, and it supported the University of Tennessee’s “Game Day Recycling Challenge,” sponsored by Keep America Beautiful, the Environmental Protection Agency and Alcoa Foundation.

Alcoa volunteers Robin and Walt Brockway show off their recycling spirit before the Oct. 29 UT football game.

“Including the work of Alcoa volunteers with the Vol Navy and our game day recycling efforts around the stadium, we recycled a total of 25,000 pounds or 12.5 tons.  That’s the most we’ve ever recycled from a home game,” said Jay Price, UT facilities environmental coordinator.             

“I estimate that we were right at a 50 percent landfill diversion rate for this game,” Price added.  “Hopefully enough to beat all of the other South Eastern Conference schools in the EPA’s Game Day Challenge.”  Last year UT finished third in the SEC.

The aluminum industry saves 95 percent of the energy it takes to make aluminum from raw ore when it uses recycled material.  According to Alcoa, this energy value drives the demand for aluminum cans.  “We could recycle billions more cans if consumers were in the habit of recycling regularly,” said Schmitt.  “We want recycling to be as much a habit as wearing a seatbelt when you get into a car.”

About Alcoa Tennessee Operations
Alcoa’s Tennessee Operations is the world’s largest producer of rolled aluminum can sheet for beverage cans and is based in Blount County, Tennessee.  Locally, it employs approximately 1,000 at its recycling and fabrication plants in Blount County, its hydropower facilities and its downtown Knoxville office. 

About Alcoa Recycling
Alcoa collects both aluminum cans and other aluminum scrap for recycling in its facilities in Alcoa, Tennessee and Yennora, Australia. The mission of Alcoa Recycling is to help people understand how important it is to recycle, and to make it easier to do so. Today, it’s more important than ever to recycle. Recycling not only reduces litter and conserves landfill space; it is also an important key to slowing and stopping the growth of greenhouse gases caused by power generation. 

###

Media Contact:
Christy R. Newman
(865) 977-3358

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

Posted by Sarah Malak – 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.

###

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

East Tennessee Medical Group Sponsors Movie To Benefit United Way

Posted by Lisa Hood Skinner – August 12, 2011

Alcoa, TN- East Tennessee Medical Group is bringing the cartoon “Rio” to the Palace Theater in downtown Maryville Sat. Aug. 13, with proceeds to benefit United Way. Ticket prices are $5, with doors opening at 6:30p.m. and the movie starting at 7 p.m.

The G-rated comedy adventure features a macaw from Minnesota who takes a walk on the wild side in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Prior to the movie’s start, attendees can answer trivia questions to compete for door prizes. Concessions also will be available.

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.

 ###

ETMG Center for Sleep Medicine in Maryville Receives Program Accreditation

Posted by Lisa Hood Skinner – August 11, 2011

MARYVILLE, Tenn. — The ETMG Center for Sleep Medicine, part of East Tennessee Medical Group, recently received program accreditation from the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM).

ETMG Center for Sleep Medicine personnel, left to right: Tammy Moore, RPSGT (Registered Polsomnographic Technologist); Nelda Kagley, RPSGT; Charles Ashworth, Director; Bobbie Bullock, Office Manager; Lindsey Merriman, M.A.; Aqueel M. Kouser, M.D., Medical Director; Claudia Heina, FNP-BC Nurse Practitioner/Sleep Specialist; and Bruce Roberts, M.D., Pulmonologist.

“ETMG strives to offer the most innovative health care available to the people of East Tennessee. Our individualized approach to sleep medicine provides the best possible care for our patients,” said Ron German, ETMG CEO.

ETMG Center for Sleep Medicine, located at 710 Morganton Square Drive, is directed by Dr. Aqueel M. Kouser and staffed by physicians Fredric M. Radoff, M.D. and Bruce T. Roberts, M.D.

Dr. Patrick Strollo, American Academy of Sleep Medicine president congratulated ETMG Center for Sleep Medicine on fulfilling the high standards required for receiving accreditation as a sleep disorders center. “The center is a significant resource to the local medical community and will provide academic and scientific value in addition to the highest quality care for patients suffering from sleep disorders,” he said.

To receive a five-year accreditation, a sleep center must meet or exceed all standards for professional health care as designated by the AASM. The accreditation process involves detailed inspection of a center’s facility and staff, including an evaluation of testing procedures, patient contacts, and physician training. Additionally, the facility’s goals must be clearly stated and include plans for positively affecting the quality of medical care in the community it serves.

The American Academy of Sleep Medicine currently accredits more than 2,200 sleep medicine centers and laboratories across the country.

The American Academy of Sleep Medicine is a professional medical society for clinicians, researchers, and other health care providers in the field of sleep medicine. As the national accrediting body for sleep disorders centers and labs, the AASM is dedicated to setting standards and promoting excellence in sleep medicine health care, education and research.

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.

# # #

Inaugural Loudon County Leadership Hall of Fame Class Announced

Posted by Shane Rhyne – August 5, 2011

Loudon County Leadership Hall of Fame logoLOUDON, Tenn. – August 3, 2011 – The night of August 25, 2011 will be a truly memorable night for eight members of the Loudon community as they are inducted in to the Loudon County Leadership Hall of Fame.  This initial class will be honored with a dinner and induction ceremony at the First Baptist Church of Lenoir City.

The Hall of Fame was established by the Boys & Girls Club of Loudon County, in partnership with the Leadership Loudon County (LEAD) Alumni Association.  Nominations were requested earlier this year and required that nominees were either a resident of Loudon County, worked in Loudon County, or were born in Loudon County.

“The leaders recognized by the Loudon County Leadership Hall of Fame exemplify the traits that Boys & Girls Clubs instill in young people, ensuring great futures for our youth and our community,” said John D. Lee, President and CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of the Tennessee Valley. “We look forward to a successful event this year, with many more to come in the future.”

Below are this year’s eight inductees along with the categories they will be honored in:

¨       Dick Krajewski – Business Leader

¨       LCPL William C. Koprince, Jr. – Military

¨       Albert Dukes – Educator

¨       Lisa Harvey – Community Service

¨       Jimmy Matlock – Public Service

¨       Sylvia and Harvey Sproul – Lifetime Achievement

¨       Jason Gilleran – Youth Mentor

Bill Williams, former WBIR Channel 10 news anchor will be the featured speaker at this year’s event.

Proceeds from the event will benefit the programs of the Boys & Girls Club of Loudon County, which has been serving children since 1954.

For more information on the inaugural Loudon County Leadership Hall of Fame Dinner and Induction Ceremony, please call (865) 232-1228 or visit www.LoudonCountyHallofFame.com.

###

About Boys & Girls Club of Loudon County

The Boys & Girls Club of Loudon County, a member of Boys & Girls Clubs of the Tennessee Valley (BGCTNV), began providing services to children in our community in 1954.  We now serve over 350 youth annually at our Lenoir City Club.  BGCTNV offers programs that increase academic success, encourage healthy lifestyles and develop productive citizens among youth and teens. Along with providing educational support and leadership opportunities, Clubs empower youth to support and influence their Club and community, sustain meaningful relationships with others, develop a positive self-image, participate in the democratic process and respect their own and others’ cultural identities. There are 15 Club locations in Knox, Blount, Loudon and Northern Anderson Counties.

**MEDIA NOTE –   If you would like to receive extended bios and headshots or to set up an interview, please contact Ryan Willis of Ackermann PR at (865) 584-0550 or rwillis@ackermannpr.com.

Cellular Sales opens four new stores

Posted by Sarah Malak – July 29, 2011

Cape Girardeau, MO Cellular Sales location (Projected image; store is currently expanding.)

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Cellular Sales, a premium Verizon retailer, has opened four new stores nationwide in the past week. The new stores opened in Denver, Pa., Tampa, Fla., Cape Girardeau, Mo. and Lockhart, Texas.

Currently, Cellular Sales has more than 400 stores across the United States. Sales consultants for the company earn an average of more than $51,000 per year.

Cellular Sales is an 18-year-old privately held company founded and headquartered in Knoxville, Tenn.  For the past three years, Inc. Magazine has named Cellular Sales one of the nation’s fastest growing retail companies in the country.

For more information about the new Cellular Sales stores, visit www.CellularSales.com. For more information on joining the company, visit www.JoinCellularSales.com.

###

Tampa, FL New Cellular Sales Store, Located on Waters Avenue

 

Media Contact:
Sarah Malak
smalak@ackermannpr.com
865-584-0550

Vista Radiology Exclusive Provider at Advanced Healthcare Medical Center

Posted by Lisa Hood Skinner – July 13, 2011

 

KNOXVILLE, Tenn.– Vista Radiology, P.C. will be the exclusive radiology provider at Advanced Healthcare Medical Center in Ellington, MO, beginning July 5, 2011.

A 25-bed privately-owned, for profit hospital, Ellington is a critical access facility providing general medical care for inpatient, outpatient and emergency room patients. Vista Radiology will also provide radiology interpretations for Advanced Healthcare’s six provider-based rural health clinics around Ellington and Poplar Bluff, MO.  Paula Harris, CEO/Administrator at the medical center, said the innovative web-based technology and resources that Vista brings “will make this a win-win for our community.”

One clear advantage of the partnership is Vista’s 24-hour, seven-days a week radiological services, which in turn will enhance emergent patient care in the medical center’s emergency room, according to Samuel Feaster, M.D., Vista Radiology president.

“Vista has established a high-speed fiber optic connection to the medical center and now can offer immediate subspecialty radiology coverage for its imaging needs,” Feaster said. “Vista’s ongoing technology infrastructure investment, combined with fast, reliable Internet connections, now enables Advanced Healthcare Medical Center’s physicians to treat its patients on a level previously unavailable.”

The Ellington area medical center becomes Vista Radiology’s tenth hospital in which it provides radiology services. Charles McRae, M.B.A., Vista administrator, said the arrangement also marks a significant milestone as Vista’s first teleradiology expansion outside the state of Tennessee.

“As our practice rapidly expanded geographically over the last few years, word has spread that we’ve become experts in meeting the stringent turn-around, communication and quality standards demanded in an acute-care setting.  We support our hospital partners with cost-effective strategies and round-the-clock support, making a positive impact toward managing their costs,” he said.

“They can access a larger array of medical technology through us, improving patient care and radiology protocols. For example, we will be Advanced Healthcare Medical Center’s software provider for its Picture Archiving and Communication System (PACS),” McRae said.

PACS is a medical imaging system which stores, retrieves, distributes and presents medical images in an independent format. The images are stored on computers or networks to replace hard copies. PACS affords a clear advantage to hospitals through its ability to improve workflow, reduce time and costs, and provide an easily accessible way for physicians to view images, especially when time is an important factor.

While Vista Radiology’s Sidney C. Roberts, III, M.D., will lead his group’s collaboration with Advanced Healthcare Medical Center, physicians at the Missouri facility also can request remote consultations from any of Vista’s fellowship trained sub-specialists.  

            Established over 50 years ago as Fort Sanders Radiology, Vista Radiology is the largest and most sub-specialized radiology practice in East Tennessee. With 38 Board-Certified radiologists, Vista is uniquely positioned to provide the highest available level of radiology expertise, including 24-hour teleradiology services and sub-specialized radiographic interpretations.

Vista Radiology also specializes in non-surgical, minimally invasive treatments such as endovascular repair of aneurysms, acute stroke treatments, breast biopsy, radiofrequency ablation and UFE, in Knoxville and the surrounding areas.  Vista’s membership includes fellowship trained specialists in body / cross sectional imaging, MR imaging, musculoskeletal radiology, neuro-interventional radiology, neuroradiology, cardiac imaging & thoracic radiology, vascular & interventional radiology, women’s imaging / breast intervention, PET & nuclear medicine, and pediatric radiology.

Vista provides radiology services for 10 East Tennessee hospitals:

  • Fort Sanders Regional Medical Center
  • Fort Sanders Parkwest Medical Center
  • Fort Sanders Sevier Medical Center
  • Fort Loudoun Medical Center
  • Roane Medical Center (Harriman, TN)
  • East Tennessee Children’s Hospital
  • Sky Ridge Medical Center (Cleveland, TN area)
  • Claiborne County Hospital (Tazewell, TN)
  • Lakeway Regional Hospital (Morristown, TN)
  • Advanced Healthcare Medical Center (Ellington, MO)

Additionally, Vista services outpatient facilities such as:

  • Fort Sanders West Diagnostic Center
  • Thompson Cancer Survival Breast Center
  • Thompson Cancer West
  • Parkwest Comprehensive Breast Center
  • The Breast Center and LeConte Medical Center
  • Outpatient Diagnostic Center of Knoxville
  • Outpatient Diagnostic Center of Nashville
  • Healthstar Physicians, P.C.
  • McKenzie Medical Center, P.C.

###

 

Contact:
Charles McRae, CFO
Vista Radiology
(865) 595-4100

 http://vistaradiology.com/

Ackermann PR records 45 percent revenue gain for first six months of 2010

Posted by Rick Laney – August 18, 2010

Knoxville, Tenn. – Ackermann PR, Knoxville’s only Top 100-ranked public relations and marketing agency, today announced that for the first six months ending June 30, 2010, the firm generated 20 new account relationships and a 45 percent increase in revenues, 2010 versus 2009.  The agency’s digital business strategies division contributed significantly to both increases.

“While we are extremely pleased and grateful for the increased business activity, these increases are most significant because they reflect what we see as the beginning of restored confidence and a return to economic health in the marketplace,” said Cathy Ackermann, Ackermann PR Founder and CEO.

“This resurgence doesn’t seem to be focused on any one sector, but rather across several industries.  We are even seeing some resumption of activity in extremely depressed sectors such as real estate development.  Two additional phenomena of the economic downturn is the number of new entrepreneurial start-ups we have seen and the requests we have received from non-profit organizations who are looking for strategic support to shore-up much needed fund raising efforts.”

Among the new clients are Pilot Corporation, Anderson Media Corporation, CityView at Riverwalk, HGTV, Tennessee Cancer Specialists, Wellness Centers of America and the Hearing and Speech Foundation.  The large number of new accounts contributed 24 percent of the agency’s year-to-date revenue growth.

Ackermann PR is a full-service, integrated firm providing strategic public relations, comprehensive marketing capabilities and digital consulting services.  The company is headquartered in Knoxville, Tennessee, and serves clients across the United States.  It is the only East Tennessee PR firm listed on PR Week magazine’s list of the nation’s Top 100 firms.

###

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

Lower Price Music Packages Praised by Top Distributor

Posted by Ryan Willis – March 18, 2010

Knoxville, Tenn. – The CEO of one of America’s largest music distribution companies said today that packaging music for consumers priced at $10 or less is a key  part of the industry’s future.

“Last week, Warner recording artist Blake Shelton, came out with a “six pack”, (six songs sold for $6 in Walmart), and now Universal Music Group is endorsing the same concept by offering a wide range of music for under $10.” said Charlie Anderson, CEO of Anderson Merchandisers.  “I applaud them.  We all know this is where the music industry must head.”

Anderson Merchandisers, headquartered in Amarillo, TX, distributes music to all Walmart stores in the U.S. and Canada, as well as to AAFES, the on-base stores for military bases.  No other American firm distributes more albums than Anderson.

“The change from vinyl albums to tapes to CD’s basically left the same album format in place,” said Anderson.  “The one song digital download has changed all that.  We need to keep pace with our consumers who are seeking more flexibility and value, both digitally and on disc.”

“What we all need to realize is that building a system that is more responsive to what consumers want is in everybody’s best interest.  No matter what the delivery system, it is still real talent that makes music sell.”

Anderson Merchandisers, L.P. is one of the nation’s largest distributors of pre-recorded music, movies, and books.

A privately held company, Anderson Merchandisers, L.P. is an affiliate of Anderson Media, headquartered in Knoxville, TN which was established in 1917.  The company has more than 4,000 associates across all 50 states, Puerto Rico, and Canada.

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