INSIDE: Endeavor Summit Recap pg. 80 + Monthly Economic Indicators pg. 78
MEMBERSHIP MATTERS NEW MEMBERS & NEW PREMIER PARTNERS THE KNOXVILLE CHAMBER’S MONTHLY NEWSLETTER
Axle Logistics (888) 440-1889 www.axlelogistics.com Distribution/Warehousing/Logistics:Import/Export Assistance Transportation:Hauling Transportation:Railroads Distribution/Warehousing/Logistics
East Tennessee Collaborative Alliance, Inc. (865) 622-8121 www.etca.com Legal Services Fee/Hedrick Family Entertainment (865) 429-5494 www.FeeHedrick.com Entertainment Green Village Green (865) 671-9420 www.greenvillagegreen.com Environmental Services & Equipment Business & Professional Services: Advertising Media
CEMEX, Inc. (865) 541-5500 www.cemex.com Building Materials: Concrete, Cement, & Asphalt
JAZ-E House Games, Inc (865) 386-8443 www.jaz-ehousegames.com Shopping: Specialty
Dialysis Clinic, Inc. (865) 573-3944 www.dciinc.org/knoxville Healthcare Providers & Services
Knoxville’s Roofing (865) 951-1995 www.knoxvillesroofing.com Construction & Contractors: Roofing
Power Systems, Inc. (865) 862-7900 www.power-systems.com Shopping: Sporting Goods
Margaritaville (865) 210-8530 www.margaritavillepigeonforge.com Restaurants
YMCA of East Tennessee, Inc. (865) 525-9622 www.ymcaknoxville.org Personal Services: Fitness & Well-being
MBK Wellness - Massage by Kenneth (865) 660-5296 www.mbkwellnessofknoxville.com Personal Services: Salons & Spas
Art Market Gallery (865) 525-5265 www.artmarketgallery.net Entertainment: Arts & Culture Ashley Wade - Keller Williams Realty (865) 964-0882 www.makeyourmoveknoxville.com Real Estate: Residential Blue Diamond Enterprise, LLC (386) 315-4482 Real Estate: Property Management Centro Hispano of East Tennessee (865) 282-6430 centrohispanotn.org Associations & Organizations Chivo Taqueria (865) 444-3161 www.chivotaqueria.com Restaurants Dialysis Clinic, Inc. - Holston River (865) 523-3755 www.dciinc.org/holston Healthcare Providers & Services
Ober Gatlinburg (865) 436-5423 www.obergatlinburg.com Attractions & Tourism
TOP ACHIEVERS Top Achievers are recognized for their countless volunteer hours and dedication to the Ambassador Program’s mission of serving as an active volunteer extension of the Knoxville Chamber to cultivate, promote, and maintain positive relationships between the Knoxville Chamber, its members, and the community.
1ST PLACE
BRONZE PREMIER PARTNERS
Diversified Engineering Services Inc (248) 470-8247 www.desi-na.com Architectural & Engineering Services: Engineers
CHRISTA EARLY STAFFINGSOLUTIONS/ EMPLOYBRIDGE COMPANIES
ASSISTANT EDITOR JESSICA KARSTEN DESIGN LADDY FIELDS CONTACT THE KNOXVILLE CHAMBER (865) 637-4550 www.knoxvillechamber.com PRESIDENT & CEO MICHAEL EDWARDS EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT RHONDA RICE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DOUG LAWYER FINANCE & OPERATIONS LARRY JOHNSON
2ND PLACE
Accident Fund Insurance Company of America (866) 206-5851 www.accidentfund.com Insurance: Workers Compensation Insurance
MONICA FLATFORD KNOXVILLE CONVENTION CENTER
MEMBERSHIP MARK FIELD PUBLIC POLICY AMY NOLAN CENTRAL BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT (865) 246-2654 mhummel@downtownknoxville.org THE DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION (865) 546-5887
3RD PLACE
SILVER PREMIER PARTNERS
EDITOR LORI FULLER
DANIEL MONDAY SLAMDOT, INC.
Sandra G’s Alterations (865) 588-6018 www.sandragsalterations.com Personal Services: Alterations/Tailoring Saw Works Brewing Co (865) 247-5952 www.sawworks.beer Restaurants SmartFit Training Systems (865) 321-7733 www.smartfitlifestyle.com Personal Services: Fitness & Well-being Tailgate Clothing (515) 460-1289 www.tailgateclothing.com Restaurants: Coffee & Tea Shopping: Specialty Water Into Wine Bistro and Lounge (865) 392-1586 www.wineintowaterknoxville.com Restaurants
Dialysis Clinic, Inc. - Maryville (865) 983-2212 www.dciinc.org/maryville Healthcare Providers & Services
K N O X V I L L E C H A M B E R | 72
TENNESSEE SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTER (865) 246-2663 LEADERSHIP KNOXVILLE (865) 523-9137 U.S. DEPT. OF COMMERCE EXPORT ASSISTANCE CENTER (865) 545-4637
SCORING BUSINESS University of Tennessee Athletics Makes Significant Impact on Local Economy BY: JESSICA KARSTEN There are two sounds synonymous with the start of the University of Tennessee’s football season – the Pride of the Southland Band playing Rocky Top, and the metaphorical ringing of cash registers. Seven Saturdays a year, Neyland Stadium ranks as the seventh largest population-center in the state of Tennessee, and the economic impact that makes on the city, county, region, and state is significant. However, the impact of the University of Tennessee Athletic Department is far more reaching than those seven Saturdays in the fall. With more than 500 student athletes representing 20 men’s and women’s NCAA Division I intercollegiate teams, UTAD is a powerful economic driver. Last September, UTAD retained Pittsburgh-based consulting firm Tripp Umbach, a national leader in economic impact research, to measure and analyze the economic impact and community benefits of Tennessee Athletics and its programs on Knox County and the state of Tennessee. UTAD released the findings in a comprehensive economic impact and community benefits report in May. The study was conducted by interviewing department personnel and local business and community leaders to gain insights on the positive impacts Tennessee Athletics has locally and statewide. The analysis also utilized data
measures including financial expenditures, UTAD employment numbers, and visitor and fan spending information. “The findings from this report further quantify and evidence the significant value of Tennessee Athletics to our state and local economies and communities,” said Dave Hart, vice chancellor and director of athletics for the University of Tennessee. “The report reflects the profound impact of Tennessee Athletics and its supporters, and the figures are truly a testament to the passion of the Volunteer fan base.” The report found that UTAD generates $463.9 million annually in overall economic impact for the state of Tennessee and $618.3 million annually in overall economic impact for Knox County. This economic impact is significant because it represents “new money” entering Tennessee’s economy due to home games from out-of-state fans, visiting teams, bands, spirit squads, and media, which would not occur without the presence of Tennessee Athletics. “Tennessee Athletics is a major driver of economic activity for the Knoxville area and the state of Tennessee,” said Paul Umbach, founder and president of Tripp Umbach. “The presence of Tennessee Athletics is a valuable asset, both in quantitative and qualitative terms, for the constituents of Tennessee.”
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“Scoring Business continued from pg. 73
Boosting Local Business Operations and visitor spending by the University of Tennessee Athletics Department and its fans directly and indirectly impacts residents and businesses throughout Knox County and the State of Tennessee. According to the 2016 report, local business volume is affected by Tennessee Athletics in three primary ways: through direct expenditures for goods and services by UTAD, staff, and visitors; indirect spending in the county and state; and induced spending by households directly employed by Tennessee Athletics or the local and state businesses providing the goods and services. In both the State of Tennessee and Knox County, primary business sectors impacted by Tennessee Athletics include sporting events, hotels and motels, food and beverage stores, and limited-service restaurants. “UT Athletics’ drive to enhance the fan experience in all sports has had a profound effect on my business,” said Terry Turner, owner of All Occasions Party Rentals and chair-elect for the Knoxville Chamber board of directors. “The partnership and trust we have created by working closely together is important to my business and to the local and regional economy.” The report also found that visitor and fan spending totals $319 million in the State of Tennessee and $448 million in Knox County. These expenditures generate an impressive $28 million in state and local tax revenue, not including tax revenues related to ticket sales. The University of Tennessee Athletics Department also supports thousands of jobs statewide in nearly every sector of the Tennessee economy in areas such as construction, business and professional services, restaurants and hotels, and information technology. Tennessee Athletics generates a total of 4,456 jobs in the state and 6,500 jobs in Knox County. These jobs include direct employment by UTAD, indirect and induced jobs created by vendors, contractors, and laborers for the construction and renovation of UTAD facilities, and jobs created in the community at hotels, restaurants, and retail stores in support of Tennessee Athletics’ workforce and visitors. On a broader scale, Tennessee Athletics provides a platform to create business value for both profit and nonprofit organizations inside the county and state. UTAD can spur additional private sector development from the department’s activities, provide advertising and sponsorship opportunities for local and regional businesses, and offer a place for local nonprofits to generate funding through the operation of event concessions. “The ripple-effect of the UT Athletics Department on Knoxville’s business community is profound,” said Mike Edwards, president and CEO of the Knoxville Chamber. “It is a significant employer in the region and its employees stimulate local economic growth through consumer spending.”
Game-Day Stats Sports fans travel from across the state to watch the Tennessee Volunteers play, with home football games attracting more than 102,000 people to the city seven Saturdays each fall. In fact, more than 70 percent of football game attendees live outside of Knox County. According to UTAD’s 2016 report, economic impact of UT football visitor spending across the state was $294.1 million during the 2015 season, contributing to a total of $347 million in economic impact from one athletic program alone. On average, Tennessee residents coming to Knox County for a football game spend $140 per day at local businesses. In terms of select business sectors, visitor spending for home football games con-
tributes $28 million to local food and beverage stores, $30.7 million to local limited -service restaurants, and $40.4 million to local hotels and motels. The study found that nearly 22 percent of football game attendees stay at a hotel in Knox County. “As a downtown hotel, we recognize that the UT Athletic Department helps fuel our local economy with an influx of travelers and participants that are so proud to be a part of UT sporting events, and we share in their pride,” said Fran Owen, director of sales and marketing for Hilton Knoxville. “The impact of success that the UT Athletic Department brings to hotels and businesses in Knoxville is significant and immediate. UT Athletics is not only a part of our hotel’s economic success, it drives our economic success and fills our hearts with pride, hope, and joy along the way.” Similarly, total economic impact from visitor spending for both men’s and women’s home basketball games totals $92.2 million and $129.9 million on the State of Tennessee and Knox County, respectively.
A Champion of Community Development Beyond serving as an invaluable driver for economic prosperity, Tennessee Athletics provides numerous intangible benefits to the Knoxville community. These benefits provide a sense of civic pride and unity that allows the community to connect and grow. UTAD not only offers educational and recreational activities for local youth through sport camps, it provides countless community service and outreach opportunities for student athletes and staff. In 2015, Tennessee Athletics ranked second in the SEC with over 5,500 hours of community service. Each year, UT student athletes give back to the community by visiting patients at East Tennessee Children’s Hospital, playing games with the Boys & Girls Club at the annual April Play Day, helping construct houses for Habitat for Humanity, and reading to children through the Knox County “Read With Me” program. “We have a vision statement for the department of athletics, and one key aspect of that vision is to ‘honor and fulfill the Volunteer Spirit’,” said Tom Satkowiak, assistant athletic director for media relations at the University of Tennessee. “In addition to that, one of our core values is ‘service to our students, fans, and community.’ That commitment to community outreach and positively impacting others is something our staff and student-athletes live every day. Our administrators and coaches regularly receive letters, calls, and emails about instances of our student-athletes making a real difference through service.” Additionally, UTAD allows for the promotion of the University of Tennessee and the City of Knoxville as a whole. Media exposure for athletic events provides a national platform to show that Knoxville is a great place to visit or locate. This positive exposure for the university can also lead to increased admission requests, institutional giving, and degree values. “The teams that make up the department provide our community with a sense of pride and rallying point,” Edwards said. “Markets throughout the country aspire to have the economic drivers associated with a successful sports program and spend millions of dollars in incentives to attract professional franchises in hopes of replicating what we have here with UTAD. We are very fortunate.” To access the economic impact report in its entirety, visit www.utsports.com/ economicimpact. Please note that figures for impact on Knox County are higher than those for the State of Tennessee because economic impact is defined as dollars coming from outside the territory surveyed.
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Mayor Madeline Rogero Addresses Premier Partners Knoxville Mayor Madeline Rogero addresses a crowd of 80 attendees at a Knoxville Chamber Premier Partner event on Aug. 3.
BY: JESSICA KARSTEN
Knoxville Chamber Premier Partners had the chance to hear from Knoxville Mayor Madeline Rogero at an exclusive event sponsored by Verizon on Aug. 3. Mayor Rogero began the discussion by describing the ways the City of Knoxville is growing and evolving. She explained how her administration has developed a vision for Knoxville and works to achieve it each day. “The very basic thing is that we want to deliver outstanding city services,” Mayor Rogero said. “We want to give them to you at a good value, and we want to be responsive to the community. The most basic and important service is public safety – our police and fire. Under Chief Rausch and Chief Sharp we have excellent leadership.” Mayor Rogero also described the city’s dedication to keeping neighborhoods safe, building a healthy community with parks and greenways, and revitalizing downtown to maintain a vibrant city core. “We try to encourage reinvestment where there has been disinvestment,” she said. “We know it’s great if we have a lot of commercial development on the outskirts of town, but if the heart is weak, then the whole city weakens.” She explained how the city’s progress is shown through construction and corporate headquarters relocating to downtown Knoxville. She discussed two opportunities for new development on Knoxville’s south waterfront and along I-275 and
assured the crowd that the city is continuing to focus on those areas. To view a video of the entire event, please visit the Knoxville Chamber’s YouTube Channel. SPONSORED BY:
Chamber Team Represents Knoxville at Annual ACCE Convention BY: JESSICA KARSTEN
Eight staff members from the Knoxville Chamber attended the 2016 Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives (ACCE) Convention from Aug. 9-12 in Savannah, Ga. The annual conference brings together chamber leaders from across North America to share best practices and interact with top industry experts. “Our team looks forward to attending ACCE each year because it gives us the opportunity to learn about new chamber programs and the best practices of our colleagues from across the nation,” said Mark Field, senior vice president for the Chamber. “It also gives us the chance to discuss ways that we can better serve our members and the Knoxville community.” During the four-day conference, the group attended various seminars and workshops about topics including closing the skills gap through workforce development, keeping a strong membership pipeline, and communicating policy priorities. Doug Minter, director of small business development for the Chamber, was a speaker for the “Incorporating Inclusion in Small Business Programs” session, and also served as an ACCE board member and chair of the ACCE Diversity and Inclusion Council. Two Chamber staff members were also recognized by ACCE this year for their
Chamber staff members (from left to right) Doug Minter, Jessica Karsten, Ashleigh Adkins, Lauren Longmire, Mary McCall, Mark Field, Sharon Shanks, and Michelle Kiely pose for a photo in front of the Savannah, Ga. skyline at the 2016 ACCE Convention.
excellence in membership sales. Ashleigh Adkins, membership development manager for the Chamber, and Mary McCall, account executive for the Chamber, ranked seventh and eighth in the nation, respectively.
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Knoxville Chamber Welcomes New Board Members As a membership organization, the Knoxville Chamber looks to its elected Board of Directors for guidance as it strives to serve and support its members and the community. Board members are recognized as key community leaders and influencers dedicated to community growth. Each board member serves a three-year term and may be re-elected. This year, the board welcomes 10 new members who will serve the 2016-2019 term (highlighted in orange).
Ms. Robyn Askew
Board Chair Attorney Lewis, Thomason, King, Krieg & Waldrop
Mr. Terry Turner
Board Chair-Elect Owner All Occasions Party Rentals
Mr. Daniel Carter
Board Secretary President The Trust Company of Knoxville
Mr. David Metz
Mr. Kent Bristow
Senior Vice President, Revenue Management TeamHealth, Inc.
Ms. Angie Cannon
Chief Executive Officer Cannon & Cannon
Mr. Justin Cazana Principal Avison Young
Dr. Peter V. “Doc” Claussen President Gulf & Ohio Railways
Board Treasurer CFO, VP of Finance Marine Accessories Corporation
Mr. Antone Davis
Mr. Brad Adams
Mr. Travis Edmondson
Chief Financial Officer South College
Mr. Bruce Anderson
Ex-Officio, CBID VP for Legal Services, General Council East Tennessee Children’s Hospital
Ms. Susan Bacon
Chief Executive Officer Johnson & Galyon
Ms. Ursula Bailey
Attorney Law Office of Ursula Bailey
Mr. Robert Baird
Senior Vice President, Knoxville Market Executive FSG Bank
Mr. Patrick Birmingham Publisher Knoxville News Sentinel
Mr. Eddie Black
Senior Vice President Knoxville Utilities Board
Ms. Mary Ellen Brewington
Executive Cherokee Distributing Company
Vol For Life Coordinator University of Tennessee Athletics Chief Executive Officer Clayton Bank
Mr. Mel Evans
Mr. Shannon Harper
Mr. Jorge Sanabria
Ms. Lisa Healy
Ms. Debbie Saraceni
Vice President Harper Auto Square
President Sysco Knoxville, LLC
Mr. Neil Heatherly
President and Chief Administrative Officer Parkwest Medical Center
Mr. Alan Hill
Regional Director - External Affairs AT&T Tennessee
Mr. Andy Lorenz
Vice President of Administration Provision Health Partners
Mr. Justin C. Maierhofer
Vice President, Government Relations Tennessee Valley Authority
Dr. Michael McIntyre
President/Owner Insurefit RM
Director, Executive MBA for Strategic Leadership University of Tennessee
Mr. Jeremy Floyd
Ms. Denise Moretz
President BPV Capital Management
Mr. Bart Fricks
Chief Operating Officer Copper Cellar Family of Restaurants
Mr. Parker Frost
President Gigmark and Big Wheel
Ms. Tiffany Gardner
Commercial Banking Relationship Manager First Tennessee Bank
Ms. Jill Green
Professional Recruiter/Shareholder BGT Recruiting & Consulting, Inc.
Mr. Harry Gross
Executive Vice President, Commercial Banking SunTrust Bank
Member Woof, McClane, Bright, Allen & Carpenter, PLLC
Mr. Roger Osborne
Ex Officio, The Development Corporation Pinnacle Financial Partners
Mr. Tom Rogers
Ex Officio, UT-Battelle/ORNL Director, Industrial Partnerships & Economic Development
Ms. Sara Rose
VP & Director, Government & Industry Affairs Bush Brothers & Company
Ms. Kendra Rudder
Vice President of Media Strategies, HGTV & DIY Network Scripps Networks Interactive
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President Expoquip, Inc
Vice President, Marketing & Physician Services Covenant Health
Mr. Cory Schupp
Senior Manager - Credit and Purchasing Pilot Flying J
Mr. John Sharpe
Chief Executive Officer ARG Financial Staffing
Ms. Debra Smith
Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer Home Federal Bank of TN
Mr. John Thurman
Architect McCarty Holsaple McCarty Architects & Interior Designers
Mr. Lance Tracy
Vice President of Brands & Engineering Radio Systems Corporation
Ms. Mahasti Vafaie Owner The Tomato Head
Mr. Howard Vogel
Ex Officio, MKAA Shareholder O’Neil, Parker & Williamson, PLLC
Ms. Susan Williams Principal SRW & Associates
Dr. Anthony Wise
President Pellissippi State Community College
Innov865 Week to Celebrate Knoxville’s Entrepreneurial Spirit BY: JESSICA KARSTEN
Knoxville’s annual Startup Day is taking on a new approach this year as it transitions into a week-long celebration of the region’s entrepreneurial spirit. Innov865 Week will take place Sept. 19-23 and will consist of pitch competitions, educational opportunities, and social events highlighting the region’s vibrant entrepreneurial landscape. The program serves as the signature event of the Innov865 Alliance, a group dedicated to showcasing Knoxville as a great place for entrepreneurs to start and grow businesses. Founding members of the alliance include the University of Tennessee Research Foundation, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, UT’s Anderson Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Pershing Yoakley and Associates, Launch Tennessee, and the Knoxville Entrepreneur Center. “With the success of our previous half-day event, Startup Day, the Alliance felt that we could develop a week-long program that would showcase an even broader cross-section of the region’s entrepreneurs,” said Jim Biggs, executive director of the Knoxville Entrepreneur Center. “This year will include programming that highlights startups and growth-stage companies, technology being developed by UT and ORNL, and more.” The week will kick off with the Kauffman Foundation’s Mayors Summit on Entrepreneurship hosted by Knoxville Mayor Madeline Rogero. The event will bring together entrepreneurial and civic leaders from across East Tennessee to talk about strengthening our region’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. Innov865 Week will also feature nationally-recognized serial entrepreneur Paul Singh and his North American Tech Tour. He will offer programming and hold one-on-one consultations with Knoxville-area startups. These meetings will help Singh better understand Knoxville’s entrepreneurial landscape and identify investment opportunities.
The Works: Demo Day 2016 will showcase the area’s newest media and software companies at Scripps Networks Interactive on Sept. 21. This will conclude the Knoxville Entrepreneur Center’s inaugural accelerator program focused on media content and coding companies. The week will continue with Startup Day 2015 Winner FunLPro poses for a the signature Startup Day 2016 photo with the $5,000 grand prize. at the Bijou Theatre from 2–4 p.m. on Sept. 22. The event promises an exciting line-up featuring fireside chats with some of Knoxville’s most successful entrepreneurs and investors, power pitches from six Knoxville-area startups competing for a $5,000 cash prize, and awarding of the UT Federal Credit Union Traction Award to a Startup Day alumnus that has made the most progress. “Shining a spotlight on East Tennessee’s most promising companies is so important for the economic growth of our region,” Biggs said. “Highlighting the collaborative efforts of organizations that supports entrepreneurs here only reinforces the growing recognition of East Tennessee as a world-class place to start and grow a business.” Tom Ballard, chief alliance officer for Pershing Yoakley and Associates, said, “Innov865 elevates the visibility of the region to entrepreneurs and investors across the country. It gives us the opportunity to put the spotlight on the great things that are underway and celebrate the ever-growing entrepreneurial ecosystem.” For more information about Innov865 Week, or to register for any of the events, visit www.innov865week.com.
SEPTEMBER - MEMBER ANNIVERSARIES Since 1869, the Knoxville Chamber has been the leading voice for business in the region. Each of these businesses are celebrating milestone anniversaries as Chamber members during the month of September. Thank you for your commitment to the Chamber and the community! 31+ YEARS
MEMBER SINCE
YP 1965 McClure Realty Company 1966 Frantz, McConnell & Seymour, LLP 1968 Alcoa, Inc. 1969 Bernstein, Stair & McAdams LLP 1973 Blaine Construction Corporation 1973 Junior Achievement of East Tennessee 1984 Sertoma Center, Inc. 1984
25 – 30 YEARS V. Alexander & Co., Inc. Pellissippi Office Center, LLC Crown College
20 – 24 YEARS Tennessee Tubebending, Inc. Enterprise Rent-A-Car - Dutchtown
MEMBER SINCE 1989 1991 1991
MEMBER SINCE 1992 1993
Ashe’s Wines & Spirits AESSEAL, Inc. Knoxville Area Urban League Berry Funeral Home Rogers Petroleum, Inc. Sandler Training Herzog & Associates Athens Paper Company, Inc.
15-19 YEARS
1994 1995 1995 1995 1996 1996 1996
MEMBER SINCE
Tennessee College of Applied Technology – Knoxville 1997 Mike Lewis - State Farm Insurance 1997 Swofford Financial - Lifetime Wealth Solutions 1997 AC Entertainment 1998 Commercial & Investment Properties 2000 Factory Carpet Warehouse 2000 Impact Associates, Inc. 2000 Bonitz Flooring Group, Inc. 2000 Turkey Creek Land Partners 2001
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10 – 14 YEARS
MEMBER SINCE
Studio Four Design, Inc. 2002 Friends of Great Smoky Mountains National Park 2002 The Abacus Group, LLC 2002 Bradford Catered Events 2002 Power Systems, Inc. 2003 Rodefer Moss & Company, PLLC 2003 The Relocation Division for Realty Executives 2004 Dempster Poured Foundations 2004 3 Minute Magic Carwash of Knoxville, LLC 2005 Butler, Vines and Babb, P.L.L.C. 2005 Zaxby’s 2005 Gresham Smith & Partners 2005 Elliott Davis Decosimo 2006 First Century Bank 2006
MONTHLY ECONOMIC INDICATORS
(July 2016)
NOTES – Knoxville MSA includes: Anderson, Blount, Campbell, Grainger, Knox, Loudon, Morgan, Roane & Union Counties.
WORKFORCE* Resident Labor Force Knox Co. Knoxville MSA Tennessee U.S.
HOUSING MARKET % Change July ’15July ‘16
July 2016
June 2016
July 2015
% Change June ’16July ‘16
239,340 423,490 3,184,900 160,705,000
238,790 422,280 3,175,300 160,135,000
234,030 415,840 3,110,400 158,527,000
0.2 0.3 0.3 0.4
2.3 1.8 2.4 1.4
391,500 2,934,300
392,300 2,940,800
382,800 2,871,100
-0.2 -0.2
2.3 2.2
NA NA NA
NA NA NA
13,820 27,010 217,610
NA NA NA
NA NA NA
4.2 4.6 4.9 5.1
4.3 4.7 5.0 5.1
5.4 5.9 6.4 5.6
-0.1 -0.1 -0.1 0.0
-1.2 -1.3 -1.5 -0.5
Non-Ag Employment Knoxville MSA Tennessee
Residential Closings Residential Inventory Median Residential Price
July 2016 1,666 8,632 $169,000
Unemployment Rates Knox Co. Knoxville MSA Tennessee U.S.
Sources: Tennessee Dept. of Labor & Workforce Development/U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
INFLATION RATES -
*Southeast Region Avg. U.S. Avg. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
% Change July ’14July ‘16 0.7 0.6
July ’15-‘16
June ’15-‘16
July ’14-‘15
0.4 0.8
0.6 1.0
-0.3 0.2
-0.2 -0.2
% Change July ’15July ‘16
Knoxville (City)
Total Single-Family Multi-Family
June 2016* 25 25 0
June 2015 31 31 0
% Change June ’15June ‘16 -19.4 -19.4 0.0
Knox Co.
Total Single-Family Multi-Family
136 136 0
188 188 0
-27.7 -27.7 0.0
Knoxville MSA
Total Single-Family Multi-Family
245 227 18
306 277 29
-19.9 -18.1 -37.9
Tennessee
Total Single-Family Multi-Family
2,303 1,804 499
2,397 1,759 638
-3.9 2.6 -21.8
Knox Co. Knoxville MSA Tennessee
July 2016
June 2016
July 2015
% Change June ’15June ‘16
54,894,725 85,766,085 742,662,173
53,148,226 81,429,576 686,261,685
52,484,736 81,033,482 700,901,068
3.3 5.3 8.2
4.6 5.8 6.0
15,192,348 24,239,025
14,327,239 22,782,577
14,266,369 22,752,040
6.0 6.4
6.5 6.5
% Change July ’15July ‘16 0.7 -1.6 -1.3 -4.2 1.2 6.1 2.3 -11.4 -0.5 4.8 1.3 -0.4 10.1 1.9
AIR SERVICE (MCGHEE-TYSON AIRPORT)
Passengers Cargo
May 2016 163,598 NA
Apr. 2016 135,755 NA
May 2015 155,427 6,551,753
% Change Apr. ’16May ‘16 20.5 NA
% Change May ’15May ‘16 5.3 NA
Source: Metropolitan Knoxville Airport Authority
Local Sales Tax Knox Co. Knoxville MSA
*All 2016 building permit data is preliminary and therefore subject to revision throughout the year. Sources: U.S. Housing & Urban Development – SOCDS – State of the Cities Data Systems; U.S. Census Bureau – Building Permits Survey
*South – City Size Class B/C
SALES TAX REVENUE - STATE & LOCAL ($) State Sales Tax
11,702 10,754 $164,900
RESIDENTIAL BUILDING PERMITS
CONSUMER PRICE INDEX (CPI) - ALL ITEMS % Change June ’15June ‘16
July 2015
% Change July ’15July ‘16 -2.1 -19.7 2.5
Source: Knoxville Area Association of Realtors
Available Labor Knox Co. Knoxville MSA Tennessee
June 2016 1,885 8,752 $166,850
% Change June ’16July ‘16 -11.6 -1.4 1.3
Source: Tennessee Dept. of Revenue
RETAIL SALES - NATIONAL (IN MILLIONS OF DOLLARS) Category Total Retail Sales Building Materials Clothing Stores Electronics & Appliances Food & Beverage Stores Food Svcs & Drinking Places Furniture & Home Furnishings Gasoline Stations General Merchandise Stores Health & Personal Care Stores Miscellaneous Stores Motor Vehicle & Parts Sales Non-store Retailers Sporting Goods/Books/ Hobby/Music
July 2016
June 2016
460,947 30,192 20,227 7,941 60,285 56,196 9,199 36,795 54,577 27,049 10,721 96,837 43,610
463,844 34,345 19,804 7,879 59,075 54,879 8,975 37,280 54,552 27,771 10,971 96,480 44,195
457,710 30,676 20,499 8,290 59,550 52,983 8,995 41,517 54,829 25,809 10,580 97,200 39,597
% Change June ’16July ‘16 -0.6 -12.1 2.1 0.8 2.0 2.4 2.5 -1.3 0.0 -2.6 -2.3 0.4 -1.3
7,318
7,638
7,185
-4.2
July 2015
EST. 1869 For more information on research, contact Joe Riley, jriley@knoxvillechamber.com
Source: U.S. Census Bureau – Advance Monthly Retail Trade Report
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Knoxville Chamber Hosts Lunch with Commissioner Randy Boyd Commissioner Randy Boyd of the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development addresses Knoxville Chamber board members and members of the Innovation Valley Chairman’s Circle of Investors at a luncheon on July 22.
BY: JESSICA KARSTEN
Randy Boyd, commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development, met with Knoxville Chamber board members and members of the Innovation Valley Chairman’s Circle of Investors for a luncheon on July 22. More than 30 attendees gathered at the Chamber for lunch and conversation with Commissioner Boyd to hear about the state of Tennessee’s economic development efforts and how they compare with other states across the country. He discussed recent corporate relocations and expansions that have greatly increased the number of jobs and capital investments in the state, as well as how Tennessee stacks up against other states in regard to foreign investment. “This luncheon was a great way to initiate conversations between Commissioner Boyd and local business leaders in a casual setting,” said Rhonda Rice, executive vice president for the Chamber. “Attendees had the unique opportunity to ask the commissioner about economic development efforts in Tennessee that directly affect their businesses here in Knoxville.”
Luncheon Details Strategies for Women in the Workplace BY: JESSICA KARSTEN
The Chamber hosted a Women on the Rise to Shine luncheon, presented by SunTrust, on Aug. 17 at Holiday Inn World’s Fair Park. Susan Packard, co-founder of Scripps Networks Interactive and former chief operating officer of HGTV, presented strategies for women in the workplace to a sold-out crowd of 220. Her presentation highlighted concepts from her book, New Rules of the Game: 10 Strategies for Women in the Workplace. Her book, published in February 2015, details the lessons she learned climbing to the top and building powerhouse media brands like HBO, CNBC, and HGTV. Focused on competition at its core, the book uses the metaphor of what it takes to win at games or sports to illustrate strategies for workplace success. “Act like an athlete,” Packard said. “By that I mean that you come to work composed, confident, and resilient. Come to work and act like and think like a winner.” Packard briefly highlighted each of the ten rules in her book, including “it starts with conditioning,” “play it cool,” and “learn to play offense.” She encouraged women to ask for things that they want in the workplace with artful assertiveness. “Much like offensive players in a game score points, so too can we score points for our company,” she said. “We can do that by being part of new business development, sales teams, and new product development. Here’s the trick. To play offense, we must ask for things. You cannot get what you need if you don’t ask.” Packard also described strategies for effective negotiation and the need for having “fan clubs” inside and outside one’s organization. She explained how to build these fan clubs by asking for help, working on cross-functional teams, having a sense of humor, and building networks. “This is a great example,” she said. “You’re here networking and meeting women outside of your companies.” She concluded the lunch and learn with three main pieces of advice: resilience, re-
Susan Packard, co-founder of Scripps Networks Interactive (pictured center), poses for a photo with Kim Jarrard of SunTrust, Rhonda Rice of the Knoxville Chamber, and Jean Martinez and Angela Conner of SunTrust at the Women on the Rise to Shine luncheon on Aug. 17.
spect, and inclusion. Packard told attendees to have the courage to push through tough times, to have respect for those who came before them, and to accept others that are unlike themselves. “Regardless of where you are in your career, Susan’s message was relevant and inspirational,” said Lori Fuller, vice president of marketing and events for the Knoxville Chamber. “When we started this series we wanted to deliver programming that highlighted local female business leaders and inspire the next generation, and Susan delivered on both fronts.” The popular Women on the Rise to Shine series, sponsored by SunTrust, offers female professionals quarterly events designed to recognize and develop women in the workplace. Programming for the series has included lunch and learns, a panel discussion with local female business leaders, and a “Wine and Shes” reception.
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The Knoxville Chamber hosted its inaugural young professionals summit, Endeavor 2016, on Aug. 19 at the Mill & Mine in Knoxville’s Old City. More than 550 guests attended the day-long event presented by Clayton Bank and Denark Construction, which featured two inspiring keynote speakers, numerous breakout sessions, a food truck food court lunch, and an after party with entertainment from local band Electric Darling. Attendees also had the opportunity to give back to the community with the Keurig Green Mountain service-to-go projects benefitting Great Schools Partnership, Young Williams Animal Center, and Humane Society of the Tennessee Valley.
More than 550 guests attended the Knoxville Chamber’s inaugural young professionals summit, Endeavor, on Aug. 19.
Grant Rosenberg, vice president of Denark Construction, and Travis Edmondson, CEO of Clayton Bank, represent the Endeavor 2016 title sponsors at the event’s morning session on Aug. 19.
Local artists Cody Swaggerty and Shane Sandberg created this impressive mural throughout the day-long Endeavor Young Professionals Summit hosted by the Knoxville Chamber.
The Endeavor 2016 Young Professionals Summit featured 11 breakout sessions about personal, professional, and community development at the Southern Station and Regas Building.
(Top row) Rob Petrone, DJ Sterl the Pearl Henton, and Kenneth Herring pose for a photo with (bottom row) Rachel Dellinger, Tiffani Mensch, and Chloe Perry at Endeavor 2016 on Aug. 19.
Attendees of the Endeavor 2016 After Party were entertained by local band Electric Darling at the Mill & Mine in Knoxville’s Old City.
SEE MORE PHOTOS ON THE KNOXVILLE CHAMBER’S FACEBOOK PAGE.
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Where Are They Now? FedEx Distribution Facility BY: KAYLA WITT
On Oct. 9, 2014, FedEx announced it would open a new distribution facility in Knox County at the Hardin Business Park. The new facility represented $35M in capital investments and 190 new jobs for the Innovation Valley. The 200,000 square-foot distribution center began operations in April 2016, and currently employs 210 individuals. “The new facility is part of a nationwide network expansion to boost daily package volume capacity and further enhance the speed and service capabilities of the FedEx Ground network,” said Luke Anderson, senior manager at the west Knox County facility. “Since 2005, the company has opened 12 new hubs featuring advanced material-handling systems and expanded or relocated more than 500 local facilities.” Anderson sites the ease of access to major highways, customer proximity, and strong local community workforce for employee recruitment as key factors when choosing where to locate its distribution center. The Innovation Valley region is within a day’s drive to over 60 percent of the United States population. “This new facility is the culmination of a strong partnership between Knoxville and FedEx Ground, the matching of numerous job opportunities with a talented local workforce, and the ongoing growth of FedEx Ground,” said Anderson. “While we currently employ around 210 individuals, we will add to the workforce as necessary to support increased demand for service in the area.” Anyone interested in learning more about the FedEx Hardin Valley job openings is encouraged to visit www.fedex.com/careers.
RIBBON CUTTING
Hoffmann Group USA, located at 202 N. Seven Oaks Drive, celebrated the grand opening of its U.S. headquarters on Thursday, Aug. 11. Charlie Slagle, president of U.S. Operations and Martin Reichenecker, chief sales officer in Munich, Germany are pictured center and joined by Mayor Burchett and fellow employees from the U.S. and Munich offices.
PREMIER PARTNER PROFILE:
Sword & Shield Enterprise Security, Inc. Phishing attacks, malware, data leaks, insider threats, regulatory compliance, and ransomware are issues that have dominated the news cycles recently, but they are threats that Sword & Shield Enterprise Security, Inc. has been battling for nearly 20 years. The Knoxville-based company has serviced clients on five continents in industries ranging from healthcare, retail, manufacturing, legal, banking and finance, and government and is one of the nation’s premier IT security companies. Sword & Shield specializes in three foundations of security services: information security, compliance, and managed services. Its team of certified professionals delivers a wide range of solutions including evaluation, remediation, and ongoing monitoring and management to help companies create the most dynamic and comprehensive security possible. Whether a business’s needs are compliance-driven or security-driven, building effective protection strategies takes a balanced risk-management approach. Being compliant does not mean a business is secure, and being secure does not mean a business is invulnerable. SWORD AND SHIELD PROVIDES: Managed Security Services: Its MSSP is designed to protect, detect, and respond to security incidents for clients 24/7 and is tailor-made. Analysts see phishing and security shell attacks and third-party software exploits, but lately approximately 80 percent of their time is spent protecting clients from ransomware exploits. News reports indicate that ransomware is now the top threat facing most organizations. Risk & Compliance: More and more industries are subject to formal regulation for their IT security. Sword & Shield offers comprehensive IT security risk and compliance services that include PCI Compliance, Experian EI3PA Compliance, and HIPAA Compliance. Security Testing: Sword & Shield’s services have helped clients improve their defense against potential data compromise. Its unique testing platform, Gauntlet™ has proven effective in both commercial and government environments, reaching beyond traditional vulnerability assessments and exposing hidden risks. Enterprise Solutions: Access an entire team of security professionals for less than the cost of one. Sword & Shield’s approach helps ensure that security and compliance measures are properly factored into technology decisions while at the same time staying on budget. It also offers virtual security capabilities and strategic security assessments. Federal Solutions: Sword & Shield has two pre-competed contracts with NASA and the National Institute of Health (NIH) worth up to $20 billion each. Federal buyers and authorized contractors can access these contracts to purchase IT products and services. Sword & Shield is committed to offering the highest protection levels for its clients to meet the threats of the digital age. To learn more about the company’s offerings, visit its website at http://www.swordshield.com.
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Large Crowd Anticipated for Tailgate-Themed Schmoozapalooza
UPCOMING EVENTS
SEPT. 8 Premier Partner Event Featuring Cassius Cash, Superintendent of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park
7:30 – 8:30 a.m. 17 Market Square, #201, 37902 Exclusive to Premier Partners SPONSORED BY:
SEPT. 15 Schmoozapalooza XV 4 – 7 p.m. Knoxville Civic Coliseum, 500 Howard Baker Jr. Dr., 37915 Tables $200 for Chamber Members; $300 for Non-Members Tickets $10 at the door; Chamber Members Save $5 by Pre-Registering prior to Sept. 13 PRESENTED BY:
More than 700 businesspeople are expected to attend the Knoxville Chamber’s Schmoozapalooza XV at the Knoxville Civic Coliseum on Sept. 15. With approximately 100 businesses exhibiting, the tailgate-themed networking event and tabletop expo gives attendees the opportunity to make business connections in a fun, casual setting. “Schmoozapalooza provides an affordable setting for businesses to market their products and services to a large crowd, and for business people to network. The energy makes it easy to have fun while doing business,” said Mark Field, the Chamber’s senior vice president. Comcast Business and Business Owners Benefits Association will present this fall’s event, along with media sponsor Sports Radio WNML. The event will be held from 4 – 7 p.m., and tickets are $10 at the door. To see a video from Schmoozapalooza XV, visit the Knoxville Chamber’s YouTube channel.
SEPT. 20 Bright Ideas: Combating Emerging Threats Presented by Brent Cantrell, Sword & Shield Enterprise Security 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. 17 Market Square, #201, 37902 $25 for Chamber Members; $35 for Non-Members (boxed lunch included) SPONSORED BY:
SEPT. 22 a.m. Exchange hosted by Image Matters 8 – 9 a.m. 3017 Sutherland Ave., 37919
SPONSORED BY:
SPONSORED BY:
MEDIA SPONSOR:
GOODIE BAG SPONSOR:
CATERING SPONSOR:
Go to “Chamber Events” on www.knoxvillechamber.com to learn more or register for any of these events.
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