Fall 2011 - Greater Memphis Chamber
Transcription
Fall 2011 - Greater Memphis Chamber
A L S O I N S I D E : Wo r k f o r P i e • M e m p h i s Ve t S p e c i a l i s t s • C o a c h K e v i n ' s I n j u r y T i p s memphis CROSSROADS A publication of the Greater Memphis Chamber FOCUS ON HEALTHCARE Memphis Miracles The individuals and organizations that help make up the Memphis and Shelby County bioscience industries. Fall 2011 There’s no place for tumors to run. The CyberKnife represents new hope to patients with inoperable or surgically complex tumors. It is the world’s first and only robotic radiosurgery system to offer a non-invasive alternative for both cancerous and non-cancerous tumors. It can track tumor motion throughout treatment, ensuring precision and preservation of healthy tissue, and fewer radiation treatments overall. And Baptist Memphis is the only hospital in the Mid-South with this remarkable new technology. CyberKnife® Robotic Radiosurgery System — only at Baptist. memphis.baptistonline.org | 901-226-0340 One of a kind. St. Jude patient Brennan, age 8, is one of a kind. Like us. There’s no place like St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Our sole focus is to find cures for cancer and other deadly childhood diseases. Brennan was diagnosed with a rare form of acute myeloid leukemia that did not respond to standard treatment. Our doctors pioneered a treatment plan just for Brennan that is giving him a chance at life. And, Brennan’s parents never received a bill. Trailblazing research. Unrivaled patient care. No bills. Ever. That’s why there is only one St. Jude. Find out more at www.stjude.org. CONTENTS Focus on Healthcare Memphis Miracles 20 This issue highlights some of the amazing people and organizations who make up the extensive bioscience community in Memphis and Shelby County. Also in this issue: 5 From The Top 6 The Corner Office 8 MemphisED with John Duncan Civic Responsibility Fuels Hopkins: Bruce Hopkins of First Tennessee talks about the importance of strong community involvement. Making Memphis a One-Stop Shop: The MCVB competes with other markets to attract visitors to Memphis. 10 Entrepreneurship 12 Bioscience 14 Logistics 16 Inside the new... 34 On the Frontlines 36 Memphis Fit 37 The Human Spirit 38 Mid-South Quality Production Center A Piece of the Pie: SeedHatchery graduate, Work for Pie, strives to be the place employers look for software developers. Thinking Inside the Box: CBU’s Healthcare Packaging Consortium provides benefits to students, companies and consumers. America’s Aerotropolis Spreads its Wings: Spreading the message about the benefits of Aerotropolis to all. ...Memphis Veterinary Specialists with Special Guest Lodie Biggs with Kevin Leathers with Jennifer Blake The Quality Center offers Lean Six Sigma training to businesse 2 Memphis Crossroads | www.memphischamber.com Pictured on the front cover with St. Jude patients is Grizz, the Memphis Grizzlies mascot played by Eric McMahon. McMahon took a leave of absence in 2007 to undergo treatment for Hodgkins Lymphoma. He then helped start the Friends of Grizz program which brought St. Jude patients and their families to Memphis Grizzlies home games to show support of Grizz. McMahon returned to play Grizz in 2008 and won Mascot of the Year this year. CONTRIBUTORS ed arnoLd is a freelance journalist, podcaster, blogger, husband and father. Though raised in north Georgia, he's made the Bluff City his home for the last decade. Toni LepeSka grew up in Cayce, Miss., and is a journalism graduate of the University of Mississippi. She has more than 20 years experience in newspaper writing, including at USA Today, the (Jackson, Miss.) ClarionLedger and The Commercial Appeal. TROy GLASGOW (photography), a native Memphian, has worked with the Associated Press, Sports Illustrated, Time, Newsweek and many other publications. For freelance assignments, he has traveled throughout Europe, Asia, South America and Central America. ChriS przybySzeWSki is a native Memphian who has written for a variety of media, including papers, magazines, books, and online publications. Locally, Chris has helped start four companies in the nonprofit and for profit arenas, and he holds degrees from the University of Pennsylvania and the University of Memphis. roSaLind Guy is a freelance writer and full-time high school English teacher. She's been teaching for the Memphis City Schools for four years. Prior to teaching she worked full-time as a reporter for the Memphis Daily News. Jon W. SparkS is a journalist, actor and filmmaker in Memphis. He writes feature stories, reviews performing arts and has done more than his share of Elvis stories. Trey heaTh has held staff positions at the Memphis Business Journal and The Commercial Appeal. He is also the vice president of Memphisbased Magnetic SEO, an Internet marketing firm, and the primary contributor to Access, the Chamber’s new blog on the logistics industry. MiChaeL WaddeLL is a native Memphian and University of Memphis graduate who has spent the majority of the past 10 years living in Southern California and working as a writer and editor. Since returning home, he has been a regular contributor to The Daily News. Memphis Crossroads | www.memphischamber.com 3 CHAMBER ONLINE by CHrISTINA MEEk news and notes from our website on the ins and outs of the Memphis business community. memphischamber.com Join the Conversation • Follow @MemphisChamber on Twitter • Be a fan of MemphisChamber on Facebook • Stay up to date with the Chamber Newsroom Chamber blogs GreaTer MeMphiS ChaMber uses a variety of outlets to keep you informed on the people, organizations and initiatives that make our city great and keep you informed. We currently have three blogs: the m blog, access and memphis fit. We plan to add more in the future, so stay tuned! Chamber CaleNDar the 4 The m blog memPhIs FIT aCCess The M-Blog features content on the latest chamber news, guest bloggers from our membership and interesting things going on in the community. Most recent posts include: choosing an IT advisor, a new app from Baptist Memorial Healthcare Foundation, Elvis and behind-the-scenes of our Young Memphis photo shoot for the summer Memphis Crossroads issue. Memphis Fit is written by Coach Kevin Leathers (from Can’t Stop Endurance, Team McGraw and Pure Fit Radio) who talks about fitness, health and wellness specially designed for the Memphis way of life. His latest posts were about the Memphis Runners Track Club, Finding What Works for You, Get Moving Memphis!, and Surviving the Summer Heat. ACCESS is written by Trey Heath features a growing conversation about Memphis’ logistics and distribution industries. Recent posts were about the new Norfolk intermodal facility, federal infrastructure funding and a conversation with Fred Smith and Richard Anderson at the Airport Cities World Conference. oCTober eleventh - 11:30 a.m. | lunch & learn “effective communication for results” gain higher productivity from everyone using effective communication - 11:30 a.m. | a conversation With mark sWeeney national site selector responsible for selecting memphis for mitsubishi electric poWer products inc. twenty first noVeMber first - 7:30 a.m. | small business council breakfast “get your Work done Quicker, easier & better ” deCeMber seventh - 4:00 p.m. | chamber orientation seventh - 5:30 p.m. | in the mix holiday reception fourteenth - 11:30 a.m. | annual chairman’s luncheon Memphis Crossroads | www.memphischamber.com FROM THE TOP with John Duncan Like so many businesses, over the past few weeks your Chamber team has begun to plan and budget for 2012. In doing so, it allowed us to take a moment and look at all that we have accomplished in the last nine months. 2011 has seen the announcement and groundbreaking for Mitsubishi Electric Power Products, Inc.; KTG’s multi-million dollar re-investment announcement into for their Memphis facility; Great American Steamboat is now taking reservations from their new Memphis offices; Memphis the Musical will be coming home to the Orpheum; we celebrated with the Grizzlies NBA-Playoff appearancesgames; and Electrolux will be breaking ground in October. So many good things are happening in our community and it is happening because we planned it – we are the New South. I hope you will join us on Wednesday, December 14 at our Annual Chairman’s Luncheon, where we will not only celebrate these successes but we will also honor another strong Memphis industry – our award-winning Healthcare Community. This issue of Memphis Crossroads will give you an idea of how great of an impact our healthcare community has on this city. Memphis’ bioscience community has grown to include some of the best hospitals, research facilities, orthopedic manufacturing companies and pharmaceutical companies in the world. Close to 40,000 people are employed in over 300 bioscience Celebrating our award-winning healthcare community companies in the Memphis area and it’s growing every day. The world-class hospitals serve the entire Mid-South region while the biomedical companies are able to distribute their products quickly all over the world. We pay tribute to some of the inspiring people, organizations and companies that make up the diverse bioscience community in Memphis. Some you’ll recognize such as Dr. Eason from Methodist University Hospital’s Transplant Institute who performed the liver transplant surgery on Steve Jobs, the Apple, Inc. founder. Others you might learn about for the first time like the air ambulance non-profit, Hospital Wing, who is celebrating 25 years of transporting trauma patients in a 150 mile radius around Memphis. These stories are just the beginning, on December 14, I hope you will join me and together we will celebrate many more “Memphis Miracles.” In the meantime, I hope you enjoy this issue of Memphis Crossroads. John Duncan is Vice President Member Development for the Greater Memphis Chamber. memphis CROSSROADS John Moore - President & CEO Amy Daniels - Director, Communications Joanna Kelly - Communications Assistant Christina Meek - Communications Specialist Corey Owens - Graphic Designer 2011 BOARD OF DIRECTORS OFFICERS Mr. Nick Clark, Vice Chairman Mr. Arnold Perl, Secretary & Counsel Ms. Martha L. Perine Beard, Vice Chair, Finance/Treasurer Mr. John W. Moore, President & CEO DIRECTORS Mr. John S. Aitken Mr. Calvin Anderson Ms. Meri Armour Dr. Steven Bares Mr. Lodie V. Biggs Mr. Charles S. Blatteis Mr. Doug Browne Mr. Greg Campbell Dr. Kriner Cash Mr. Jerry Collins Mr. Larry D. Cox Mr. Joe DiNicolantonio Ms. Alandas Dobbins Mr. Mike Edwards Ms. Julie Ellis Dr. Nathan Essex Mr. Ryan Fleur Mr. Steve Fracchia Mr. Mark Giannini Mr. Bob Gordon Mr. Bill Griffin Ms. Carolyn Hardy Mr. Charles Hill Mr. Kevin Kane Mr. Doug King Mr. Terence L. Lewis Mr. Greerson McMullen Mr. Johnny B. Moore Ms. Tina Newman Ms. Dorothy Gunther Pugh Mr. Richard Shadyac, Jr. Ms. Leigh Shockey Mr. Richard W. Smith Mr. Jack Soden Ms. Blair Taylor Mr. Charlie “Chuck” Thomas Dr. Johnnie B. Watson Mr. Roby Williams Mr. Luke Yancy MEMPHIS AREA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PLAN Memphis Crossroads | www.memphischamber.com 5 CORPORATE LIFE THE CORNER OFFICE Civic responsibility fuels Hopkins by MICHAEL WADDELL Native Memphian Bruce Hopkins is passionate about his hometown. “Wherever I travel, I sell the city whether I’m working for the bank or the community or St. Jude,” says Hopkins, who took over as First Tennessee Bank West Region president this past April and also volunteers on several boards for community organizations around town. In his new role at First Tennessee, Hopkins is the market leader for the bank’s largest of three markets in Tennessee, encompassing the Greater Memphis area, Jackson and Northern Mississippi. Hopkins, who previously oversaw the private bank and wealth management areas for the bank, plans to concentrate on service product line of delivery for retail, private client, wealth management, commercial and business banking. “The financial crisis has made us a more efficient company and more productive because we’ve had to work harder for the business,” said Hopkins. “There have been a lot of hard lessons that have been learned. But they are good lessons. We are still making loans and doing mortgages and home equity lines.” Hopkins began working in the banking and financial services industry in 1973 after attending Hampden-Sydney College in Virginia, the University of Tennessee for graduate school and a Louisiana State University School of Banking of the South for 6 Memphis Crossroads | www.memphischamber.com its three-year program. He accepted a position with First Tennessee in 1985, following more than a decade working at National Bank of Commerce located across the street. Strong community involvement is at the core of Hopkins’ belief system. “I was raised that you give back to the community in which you live,” said Hopkins. “I’m not on the various local boards just to be on them. I dive headfirst into all of the projects and concentrate on what they do for the community.” ArtsMemphis is another organization that is close to Hopkins’ heart. He is the foundation’s current vice chairman and he is also a past chairman. He will become the ArtsMemphis chairman for a second time in 2013 for its 50th anniversary. “ArtsMemphis is an incredible organization that supports Theatre Memphis, the Brooks Museum, National Ornamental Metal Museum, Ballet Memphis, Opera Memphis and smaller groups,” says Hopkins. “It’s something that’s really evolved in our community. The arts help attract new businesses to the city and help to sustain us. I’ve seen what the arts can do in cities around the world, and I would put our arts groups here up against any of them.” Hopkins also works closely with ALSAC/St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, where he serves as the Chairman of the Audit Committee. “Memphis has a lot of crown jewels, and we are really fortunate to have St. Jude hospital and everything that it does as one of them,” says Hopkins, CORPORATE LIFE who explains that he had the incredible experience of traveling for St. Jude abroad to outreach hospitals in Lebanon and Jordan in the Middle East and Chile in South America. “Bruce is one of our most dedicated volunteers who serves our organization in a variety of capacities,” says Richard Shadyac, Jr., CEO of ALSAC/St. Jude. “He goes above and beyond. Not only does he serve as a board member, but he also helps us raise money. And he and his wife are very personally involved in making sure the families are well taken care of while they’re here in Memphis. We are truly blessed to have them.” Bruce Hopkins at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. Photo by Troy Glasgow. Memphis Crossroads | www.memphischamber.com 7 ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT MEMPHISED Economic Development Quarterly Update Making Memphis a one-stop shop by JON W. SPArkS Kevin Kane, President and CEO of the Memphis Convention & Visitors Bureau at the Tennessee Visitors Center. Photo by Troy Glasgow. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT It's easy enough to tout the great things about Memphis. The tough job is cutting through the noise other cities make in trying to lure visitors. The travel and hospitality industry generated $1.8 trillion nationally in economic output from visitors last year according to the U.S. Travel Association. That's a lot of people on the move, and Kevin Kane wants them to come here. Kane, president and CEO of the Memphis Convention and Visitors Bureau since 1991, has stepped up to the competition on a number of fronts, constantly seeking opportunities to draw people and money to Memphis. "Our first priority is large groups of people that are going to be here for multiple days," he says, the focus being on convention development and major sporting events that bring out-of-towners into hotels, restaurants and retail stores. Second priority is the overnight guest — the salesperson or family stopping here along the way to another destination. "Our goal is to get that group to extend their length of stay," Kane says. "Not even necessarily two nights, but if we can get them to stay a few more hours, chances are they're going to be spending money." And third is what he calls day trippers, those people coming in from outside Shelby County for a concert, play or game. "We look at the Ticketmaster ZIP code analysis and see that typically 20 percent to 30 percent of those people come from outside of Memphis." The economic impact is especially sweet because, as Kane says, "we're doing it with other people's money. That's what makes this industry different from everything else." Travel and hospitality is important enough to the lifeblood of the city that MemphisED has designated it a key target industry and partnered with the MCVB. Visitors come to enjoy more than 50 tourist attractions here and spend more than $3 billion annually. There are more than 50,000 jobs in tourism/hospitality spread out over all neighborhoods with annual wages of some $2 billion. The MCVB itself employs around 70 fulltime employees at its offices as well as at the Cook Convention Center, plus more than 100 part-timers. But its footprint is global, Kane says. There's an office in Washington with a full-time employee working the numerous national organizations based there. There are representative firms in London, Chicago, Tokyo and elsewhere pushing the convention center, the Peabody Memphis Hotel and everything else the Bluff City has to offer. SCORECARD To Date: New Jobs 13,316 Capital Investment $3,472,485,121 New Minority/Women Owned Business Receipts $394,390,191 Talent Attracted/ Retained 15,109 The Memphis Economic Development Plan (MemphisED) is a five-year comprehensive program to transform our region. The plan is administered by the Greater Memphis Chamber. The plan involves 16 community partners working together to implement 15 strategies that support five key goals: • Creating a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship. • Marketing our region externally to attract new companies and internally to improve our self-image. • Building on our existing strengths in logistics, bioscience, music, film and tourism. • Working to retain local firms and helping them expand here in Shelby County – with particular attention to minority/women-owned firms. • Making Memphis a “place of choice” for the increasingly mobile workforce. MemphisED is working. For more detail go to www.memphischamber.com/The-Chamber/MemphisED.aspx And for video highlights, go to www.memphischamber.com/ stories. And the lure they use is, fortunately, the sexiest sell of all: music. "We have so many rich, diverse qualities that define us," Kane says, "but we still feel that the whole music culture is our hook. Our identity is linked to Elvis, B.B. King, Isaac Hayes, Justin Timberlake, Stax and Sun —current and past music and these iconic figures." That makes pitching Memphis easier, but Kane is not one to sit still. The MCVB recently took over management of the Cook Convention Center, a move that offers advantages to developing the appeal of the region. "It allows us to leverage our resources, to have a Memphis focus and to create a total one-stop shop for the customer." Memphis Crossroads | www.memphischamber.com 9 Brad Montgomery and Cliff McKinney of Work for Pie with Seed Hatchery's Eric Mathews. Photo by Troy Glasgow. A piece of the pie by ED ArNOLD The culinary tussle over who has the best pie in town is contentious competition. A recently launched Memphis business is taking that theme into the job market, minus the flaky crust. 10 Memphis Crossroads | www.memphischamber.com Hiring a full-time employee is costly. Such an expense makes finding quality employees all the more of a challenge. Sifting through resumes, references and cover letters will only get you so far and a poor choice could cost companies more money than not hiring at all. Hiring a software developer presents its own unique headaches. Employers may not know the difference between the software coding language Python from a display at the herpetarium. Work for Pie, the brainchild of cofounders Cliff McKinney and Brad Montgomery creates an easy-tounderstand grading system for evaluating software developers, thus giving each job seeker a simple visual cue to make hiring intuitive. In their words, it’s “geek cred, realized.” “Often,” McKinney explains, “a developer’s resume simply goes to a hiring manager who sometimes just can’t definitively evaluate talent.” At Pie, a developer’s tinkering nature is rewarded. They can actually watch their score grow when they participate in open-source software projects, collaborate with other developers and provide rocksolid resumes. Names like Stack Overflow, GetHub and Bitbucket may sound like extras from the last Transformers movie, but in the open-source software developer community, those sites are vital. In them, programmers contribute to collaborative projects, troubleshoot software and open their own projects up for discussion and critique. Where more conventional professions such as medicine or law have their medical journals and law review publications to vet new ideas and innovators, the computer technology community has these types of peer-review periodicals to do much the same thing. Work for Pie takes the information from those sites, as well as several others, and using a proprietary algorithm, creates a score, or “pie,” for each job seeker. The circular symbol assigned to each user represents the quality of work and participation in the opensource software community. McKinney and Montgomery have grown their site significantly since they launched the service in May, with its user base swelling to more than a thousand in less than two months. The growth spurt would not have happened so quickly, if at all, if not for the community-focused training and funding initiative that cultivated the business – Seed Hatchery. Hatchery is a collaborative project between local business booster Eric Mathews of Launch Memphis and Vic Gallo of the Nashville-based seed fund, the Solidus company. Their aim was to bring start-up entrepreneurs together with local business mentors who can take the ideas of the applicants and hone them into workable business plans. Founded in December 2010, the entrepreneurial incubator idea immediately took off. Sixty-five groups applied in just a few weeks. Mathews and his coterie winnowed the group down to six businesses. Those six finalists were then paired to a group of three to five mentors, and put into a rigorous training program hosted at the Emerge Memphis offices downtown. “It’s all about building community capacity,” Mathews says. “The Hatchery provides rock star mentors, a ninety-day marine-style business boot camp and it provides money.” Mathews is quick to point out though, money is the least important thing the Hatchery provides. When the Work for Pie duo came to Seed Hatchery, they had a very different idea. With the help of their mentor group, they were able to hammer out the more workable, and hopefully profitable, business plan. “Had we not been a part of Seed Hatchery,” says Montgomery,” I don’t think we’d be involved with a product that’s had this much visibility or has as clear a path to be a thriving business as we do now.” That enthusiasm runs both ways. One of Work for Pie’s mentors, Brian Swanson, president of Purple Ant Software, found that the entrepreneurial spirit of Seed Hatchery businesses reminds him of his own entrepreneurial excitement. “I’ve always loved the start-up period of a new business,” Swanson said. “As a software developer myself, the idea was close to my heart.” Seed Hatchery is currently accepting applications for its second round and with such a well-received initial offering, expectations are high. Mathews has set a goal of a hundred applicants and judging by the rapid growth of success stories like Work for Pie, Mathews seems likely to meet his goal. ON THE WEB www.seedhatchery.com www.workforpie.com Memphis Crossroads | www.memphischamber.com 11 BIOSCIENCE “Thinking ‘inside the box’” by CHrIS PrzyBySzEWSkI Katy Moser, a sophomore in the Engineering Management (Packaging) program at Christian Brothers University. Photo by Troy Glasgow. Christian Brothers University’s Healthcare Packaging Consortium provides benefits to companies, consumers, students. Most of us have mailed something. Boxes, containers, letters, all move across our world every day by the hundreds of thousands. However, while we’re concerned that our packages arrive on time and to the correct destination, we sometimes don’t think so much about the package itself, the container that protects the many times precious cargo. However, entire lines of research work to improve just that. Better boxes. Better liners. Better plastics and BIOSCIENCE bindings. Much of this research, of course, happens at the companies that then ship the containers. Some of that research happens in independent institutions. And now, some of that research happens here in Memphis, TN. Created in the summer of 2010, the Healthcare Packaging Consortium was created on the campus of Christian Brothers University. Encouraging participants to ‘think inside the box,’ the Consortium advances the knowledge related to healthcare packaging through education and research. Leading efforts is Consortium Coordinator Siripong Malasri, PhD, PE, and Professor of Civil Engineering. The Consortium results from ten years’ work in the Department of Engineering at CBU, beginning when department leadership was approached by Medtronic and FedEx. “They wanted to talk about a packaging program,” says Malasri. “They were willing to help us.” The leadership group would soon include several other major partners, including other Memphis-based medical device giants Smith & Nephew and Wright Medical Technology, Inc., pharmaceutical leader Merck Consumer Care, and logistic players Evergreen Packaging and Plastic Ingenuity. Help has come in many forms, including necessary but expensive equipment to fill the now over 20,000 square feet of laboratory space. Malasri proudly exhibits machines that create new types of packaging by cutting materials or creating plastic molds, that test the packaging in a variety of climate and altitude controlled environments, and that simulate light and heavy packages dropping small to large distances. Other assistance to build the laboratory came from generous grants from the Assisi Foundation of Memphis, Inc., along with several other local foundations. According to Malasri, the Consortium’s provides a function unique in Memphis, but in industry and academia in general. “We’re actually a commercial lab,” he says. “Most industry and school labs are internal only. They don’t service customers.” In contrast, the Consortium provides research that directly affects the customer experience. Example: regulations applying to moving products from factories to distributors are numerous and rigid. However, moving products from loading palettes to store shelves includes less oversight. One result is that products, such as cough syrup, can be damaged. “When packages are opened at the retail locations, there is sometimes breakage, leakage,” Malasri explains. “The customer doesn’t want that and won’t buy the product.” In the Consortium laboratories, researchers can simulate what happens to products, recreating scenarios that can literally destroy boxes, containers, or bottles. The data offers insight that can lead to possible solutions. Sometimes, solutions are not complicated. “Bubble wrap,” Malasri reports, smiling. “We tried a number of solutions, including types of foam. They didn’t work well. Bubble wrap, though, works well.” According to Malasri, the use of bubble wrap can reduce up to 25% of distribution-related damage. It’s a cheap solution that saves companies money, makes for safer products, and makes customers happier. At this time, Consortium researchers are extending their research to other forms of container design, including those with protective materials on the outside of the container as well. According to Malasri, the Consortium is only beginning. “We are just now one year into operations,” he says. “Now, we want to get our name out there, publish papers, and get more recognition.” Some of that recognition has already happened in one big way: the Consortium is one of a very few packaging laboratories that has achieved the prestigious status of an International Safe Transit Association certification. Along with recognition, part of the Consortium’s growth includes building academic programs around the research and laboratory. In a short time, CBU has created courses focused on packaging and is working to develop an entire Bachelor of Sciences program, with two seniors currently taking courses toward the degree. Also, Malasri says the Consortium has developed a certification both for students and industry professionals, estimating that over thirty such certifications already have been awarded. “We are an academic institution, and we want to give our undergraduates opportunities.” The industry ties can help the undergraduates after leaving CBU as well. “Because they get real-world experience, Consortium members can hire the students when they graduate.” It’s a matter of sometimes looking inside the box to find the best solutions. Memphis Crossroads | www.memphischamber.com 13 LOGISTICS America’s Aerotropolis spreads its wings by TrEy HEATH In a nondescript office building just a few miles from the Memphis airport, some 25 National Eye Bank Center technicians and administrators work to prepare ocular tissue for a life-changing surgery that will take place hundreds of miles away. In just a 72-hour window, technicians will need to test, prepare and research a pair of corneas donated to the eye bank that will eventually be sent across the world into the hands of a waiting surgeon. “This is why we built this facility here,” says David Pennington, the center’s vice president of ocular distribution and business development, referring to Memphis’ close proximity to the FedEx hub. “When you are dealing with corneas, you only have a certain amount of time. It’s a very timely thing.” But Memphis, America’s Aerotropolis, is used to dealing with timely supply chain issues. Thanks to Eye Bank’s Memphis facility, tissue can be sent out as late as 11:59 p.m. and still arrive in the operating room the next day at 8 a.m. “We have learned to be very good at supply chain management,” Pennington says. Good may be an understatement. The Eye Bank’s Memphis facility opened in 2005 in an 8,000-square foot facility. Today, it distributes around 8,000 ocular tissue items a year in its now 19,000-square-foot facility, boasting a less than 1 percent failure rate. And that’s all in part to Memphis’ aerotropolis strategy, though Pennington admits neither he nor his staff really know what the word means. “It’s just a word I’ve read off the airport’s 14 Memphis Crossroads | www.memphischamber.com website,” confesses John Gary, the eye bank’s executive director. But it’s that unfamiliarity with the term and the full capabilities of the Memphis aerotropolis that local transportation and economic development officials are hoping to overcome. In its most basic form, an aerotropolis is an economic development strategy where a city’s economy is centered around the airport and the international connectivity it provides. “I jokingly give speeches and say aerotropolis sounds like the city where Superman was born,” says Dexter Muller, Greater Memphis Chamber senior vice president of community development. “We were just ahead of the curve and when we started using it no one knew what it meant. It sounded like something that was trendy and something that would just fade.” But the idea never faded, growing from an academic concept to mainstream policy. The aerotropolis concept was first introduced to the Memphis area in late 2006 by its founder Dr. John Kasarda, Director of the Kenan Institute of Private Enterprise at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill. In 2007, Memphis government and economic development officials brought Kasarda to Memphis to help build a local aerotropolis concept. The next year, the Greater Memphis Chamber launched a marketing and advertising campaign on the aerotropolis concept, redefining Memphis from “America’s Distribution Center” to “America’s Aerotropolis.” LOGISTICS Since that time, the aerotropolis verbiage has become standard jargon to airport and economic development executives around the world. “What's happen is airports know about it then economic development officials hear about it and that in my view is kind of where we are,” Muller says. But that level of familiarity has yet to reach all of the local business owners located in Memphis’ aerotropolis, a trend Muller hopes will soon change. As more local businesses begin to grasp the full concept of the aerotropolis movement, there’s hope that Memphis’ full logistics service offering will become common knowledge, including its in-land port and railroad assets. “In our aerotropolis area, you have more flexibility to more modes of transportation than you do in most cities in the U.S.,” Muller says. “We have legitimate world class assets in all modes of transportation.” There are signs that the movement is already having a significant impact. Memphis-based Dunavant Enterprises, a once significant player in the cotton market for decades, sold its cotton interests in 2010 and now focuses purely on its distribution and logistics services thanks to the assets available to the company in the Bluff City. “My grandfather and father grew up in a business that was the most important to this city — cotton,” says William Dunavant, Dunavant president and CEO. “Now we are taking what we did so well in cotton and offering it to our customers around the world and letting them apply it to their supply chains so they can cut costs and become more efficient.” For Dunavant and his business, the aerotropolis movement has come to represent a commitment to infrastructure investments. “The aerotropolis is about consolidating logistics,” Dunavant says. “You have air, all of the class one railroads, the river, the bridges and the highway system coming through the middle of America. “If you are looking for a logistical hub in the US, Memphis has it all.” Memphis was named Business Facilities Magazine #1 Logistics and Distribution Hub in the U.S. To learn more visit: www.memphischamber. com/Memphis-Top-Logistics-Hub.aspx ACCESS Developments and issues related to the logistics sector appear first on ACCESS, the Chamber’s blog devoted to the industry. New posts are made frequently. Go to www.memphischamber.com to learn more. Technician Tim Reed with National Eye Bank Center. Photo by Troy Glasgow. Memphis Crossroads | www.memphischamber.com 15 INSIDE THE NEW... MEMPHIS VETERINARy SPECIALISTS Building a dream architect firm archimania works with Veterinarian Todd Tobias to build a state-of-the-art facility by TONI LEPESkA Veterinarian Todd Tobias at the Memphis Veterinary Specialist. Photo by Troy Glasgow. INSIDE THE NEW... MEMPHIS VETERINARy SPECIALISTS archimania specializes in rebranding medical practices, was founded in 1995 and has a portfolio of many architectural “firsts” including recently completing design of Tennessee’s first Zero Energy Building (ZEB). An 18,000- square-foot triangle building capped with weathered steel and lighted by the rays of the sun is a far cry from veterinarian Todd Tobias’ first work space - the backseat of a Mazda sedan. For a year, Tobias (age 48) was a mobile vet “and I hated it,” he said. Even after he moved into a real office in a Cordova strip mall, he longed for something more fitting, for himself, for his employees and for his patients. He also wanted state-of-the-art architecture to reflect the state-of-the-art veterinary medicine his practice offered. In June, Memphis Veterinary Specialists moved into just such a space designed by Memphis-based archimania. “I didn’t want something blah,” Tobias said as he stood on easy-to-clean, non-slip flooring in the spacious, modern lobby filled with natural light from a wall of floor-to-ceiling windows. “The architecture needed to help tell our story. I wanted people to think, ‘I’m in the right spot. This is where I needed to be.’ I wanted them to be impacted in some way.” To find a practice like Memphis Veterinary Specialists at 555 Trinity Creek, you’d probably have to travel to Starkville, Miss., or to Nashville. It’s the only veterinary specialist hospital in the region. Other veterinarians refer patients to the practice when they’ve done as much as they know to do. Specialties include surgery, internal medicine, oncology (cancer), ophthalmology (eye), dermatology and dentistry. Fourteen veterinarians see an average of 30 patients a day but sometimes as many as 50. While many are cats and dogs, birds are treated, too, and the occasional monkey is seen. After hours, the practice becomes an emergency veterinary clinic that treats animals from across the Mid-South. Tobias opened the practice with 3,200 square feet in 1997 at 830 N. Germantown Road. As the practice grew, he acquired additional units, eventually using 8,000 square feet of the strip mall. “It was very inefficient, the flow. It ended up being a maze,” Tobias said. While working in the pieced-together space, he was thinking, planning. He had property on Trinity Creek. That’s where he could build a building that would suit the practice’s needs. He needed space for the CT scanner, oxygen cages, an operating room and patient rooms. He needed separate ventilation systems so germs wouldn’t spread between types of animals. He needed offices and a fully-furnished bedroom for the after-hours emergency vet, who was napping on a futon in a closet. During a vacation, Tobias drew up plans for the building, but he was a veterinarian surgeon, not an architect. He needed a professional. He discovered archimania, which has been selected for more American Institute of Architects awards than any firm in the state in the past 15 years. “We like clients who have vision. We like to help shape it,” said Barry Alan Yoakum, an archimania architect who worked on the project. Putting together plans for a building that would be pleasing to the eye and had specialized functional needs was a challenge, but doable. Design took five to six months – less time than expected for a project this size because Tobias had laid the groundwork for what he needed. “We’ve never done a veterinary hospital like this … but what we’re really good at is problem solving,” said Todd Walker, an archimania founder and one of the project’s architects. “Bringing all these things together, problem solving and keeping it within budget - we really had a puzzle that needed to be solved.” Said architect Matt Seltzer: “They really went out of the way to collaborate with us. There were times we met three times a week.” To fit a triangular-shaped lot with a sort of handle on the end, archimania proposed a perfectly triangular building. At one of the points, patients would filter into the lobby by passing under a long swatch of canopy, or porte cochere, created by the weathered steel. Two spaces would be open to the sky and be used as a dog run or courtyard. Tobias’ favorite aspect of the $3.4 million building is its relationship to the outdoors. Floor-to-ceiling windows on the side of patient rooms expose visitors to a dense planting of trees and shrubs along a creek. A second-floor balcony on the same side gives employees in the break room a refreshing look of the outdoors. “The thing I adore the most is it backs up into foliage. I have lots of people come from fancy practices and they say, ‘Oh my God. We don’t have this,” Tobias said. “I’m thrilled. This was always my dream.” Memphis Crossroads | www.memphischamber.com 17 20 eleven December Fourteenth 20 eleven 1830: $3,300 was appropriated to enable the Memphis Hospital, (now called the Regional Medical Center) to open its doors 1911: UTHSC is established as the flagship statewide academic health system 1912: original Baptist Memorial Hospital opens in downtown Memphis 1918: the Methodist Hospital of Memphis was chartered and built on the site of University Hospital 1934: Smith and Nephew Orthopedic opens a facility in Memphis 1950: Wright Medical Technology (then called Wright Manufacturing) is founded in Arlington, TN 1952: Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital opened 1962: Danny Thomas opened the doors at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital 1971: Schering and Plough merge to become Schering-Plough, a pharmaceutical company that developed the standard UV index, among many other notable things 1974: Faculty Medical Practice Corporation is founded and later becomes the UT Medical Group in 1990 as a nonprofit that provides over 270 doctors 1974: St. Francis Hospital-Memphis opens 1980: Medtronic opens a facility in Memphis 1986: Hospital Wing, a non-profit air medical transport is founded 1992: The Medical Education Research Institute (MERI) is founded by Dr. Kevin T. Foley 1996: Accredo Health, Inc. is organized and today dispenses close to 200 specialty drugs from approximately 83 dispensing pharmacies nationwide 1998: Med Communications, a leading medical communications service provider, opens 2001: Memphis Bioworks Foundation is founded 2002: Wright Medical introduces REPIPHYSIS artificial limbs that can be lengthened electromagnetically as patients grow 2006: Memphis-based Luminetx starts shipping a VeinViewer, a device they created that uses infrared light to help locate veins 2006: Johnson & Johnson Logistics Center opens in Memphis which provides logistic services in support of the Johnson & Johnson Medical Devices & Diagnostics (MD&D) operating companies 2007: INNOVA is founded by the Memphis Bioworks Foundation to fund companies with outstanding intellectual property 2009: UT Medical doctor, Dr. Eason performed a liver transplant on Apple co-founder Steve Jobs at Methodist University Hospital Transplant Institute 2009: Schering-Plough and Merck merge to form the world’s second largest pharmaceutical company in market share. Merck developed the measles and mumps vaccines Memphis Crossroads | www.memphischamber.com 19 FOCUS ON HEALTHCARE MEMPHIS M racles The words Memphis Memphis and miracles miraclesare arepretty prettymuch muchsynonymous, The synonymous, depending on whom you ask. For some depending on whom you ask. For some people, the miracle people, in thethe miracle in the form of atlife-saving comes form ofcomes life-saving treatment Le Bonheur treatmentHospital at Le Bonheur Hospital for a part of Children’s and for Children’s others it could meanand being it could mean beingthat a part of a premier aothers premier training program provides real-life training experience on program that provides real-life experience on simulation simulation mannequins that respond just like humans. For each mannequins respond for justthis like humans. For eachmiracle of the of the peoplethat interviewed story, the Memphis people interviewed this story, the situation. 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People all overthe theworld world think Memphis is People all over think thatthat Memphis is synonymous synonymous barbecue, peek intomedical some ofcenters the or with barbecue,with but peek into but some of the medical centers or bioscience companies and you quickly bioscience companies and you quickly realize that Memphis realize that Memphis has so much to offer than with BBQ. has so much more to offer than BBQ.more Our city is bursting Our city is technologies bursting withand innovative and innovative advancestechnologies in the healthcare/ advances in thefield. healthcare/biotechnology On an biotechnology On an almost daily basis,field. healthcare almost daily basis, healthcare miracles developed right miracles developed right here in our hometown are benefitting here inoutside our hometown those our city. are benefitting those outside our city. The Regional Medical MedicalCenter CenteratatMemphis Memphisisisnationally nationally The recognized as one of of the theleading leadingtrauma traumacenters centersin in thethe U.S.U.S. Jude Children’s Research Hospital has likewise likewisereceived received St. Jude Children’s Research recognition for forgroundbreaking groundbreakingresearch researchthat thathas hasledled recognition to to treatmentofofchildren’s children’s cancers and other diseases. Outside treatment cancers and other diseases. Outside of the limelight, though, is Gabriella Salinas, a former St. of the limelight, though, is Gabriella Salinas, a former St. Jude Jude patient whoorganized has organized a of team of former patient who has a team former patientspatients to run tothe runSt.inJude the marathon St. Jude marathon to raiseformoney for theShe’s in to raise money the hospital. hospital. She’s just onemeet person you’llpages. meet You’ll on these just one person you’ll on these also meet pages. You’ll also meet Dr. William Novick, founder of Dr. William Novick, founder of International Children’s Heart International Children’s Foundation, who regularly Foundation, who regularlyHeart makes mission trips to third world makes mission trips to third countries treat countries to treat children withworld a variety of heartto ailments. children with a variety of heart ailments. It’snot notjust justthese thesesingle single individuals is itindividual the It’s individuals nornor is it the individual alone institutions alone that contribute to the institutions that contribute to the overall excellence of the overall and excellence of the medical and bioscience medical bioscience community, but the collaboration of all community, but the collaboration of all those those institutions. Memphis has a diverse network of institutions, institutions. Memphis hasclinics a diverse offirms institutions, organizations, incubators, and network bioscience that are organizations, clinics andexcellence. bioscience firms that known for theirincubators, research and clinical are known for their research and clinical excellence. 20 Memphis Crossroads | www.memphischamber.com 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 Baptist Baptist Memorial Memorial Health Care Health Care Simulation Mannequins Simulation Mannequins Nurse: Pam Neri, RN training with a Baptist Simulation mannequin. Photo by Troy Glasgow. Once upon a time nurses practiced giving shots by using oranges. Thanks to innovative technology, Baptist Memorial Health Care offers its healthcare professionals the opportunity to engage in realistic scenarios with mannequins that are as close to humans as one can get. Less than a year ago, Baptist Memorial Hospital opened the Simulation Center for Clinical Excellence at the Walnut Grove campus. “Health care professionals in all stages of their career can come here to demonstrate their competency, learn new procedures, learn how to operate new equipment,” said Judy Bedard, director of nursing staff development. Medical and technical procedures are not all that are taught at the center. Medical personnel who go through training at the center also learn how to communicate more effectively with patients. “This is a no-fail environment,” said Bedard. “This is not a gotcha area. This center is here to help them (medical professionals) grow as professionals.” They have nearly 40 simulation mannequins at the center. They fall within three categories: low fidelity, which is similar to mannequins used in CPR classes; medium fidelity, which has heart, lung, and bowel sounds; and high-fidelity or the SimMan 3Gs, which can communicate, respond to medications, and have other bodily functions similar to human beings. At the Baptist Memorial Hospital Women’s Center, there’s a pregnant simulation mannequin who actually gives birth. Bedard said that her mission for the center, one all the employees of the center embraces as well, is that there is no pretending at the center. Everything, even the equipment and medications, are just as they would be in the hospital environment. “The important thing is that they’re not learning on a patient.” Dr. Dr.Lisa Jennings Lisa Jennings, CirQuest Labs CirQuest Labs Dr. Lisa Jennings understands that creating new drugs is important. She also understands that how the drug interacts with the body is even more important. Jennings is the founder of CirQuest Labs, a three-yearold contract research organization (CRO) that provides an array of support services to pharmaceutical companies as well as academic institutions that carry out translational and clinical research. CirQuest Labs, which partners with Innova, is run out of the Memphis Bioworks Foundation. “We consult, perform testing, and oversee translational and clinical research efforts,” said Jennings. Jennings is a professor and director of the Vascular Biology Center at The University of Tennessee Health Science Center. It was in this position that she realized the value and need for such an organization as CirQuest. “Over the years, as a professor, I gained a national and international reputation as an expert in therapies that treat clotting problems, particularly in patients who have heart disease,” she said. Using her Dr. Lisa Jennings, founder of CirQuest labs. Photo by Troy Glasgow. background, knowledge and reputation, her company now is able to help translate research into patient care. The company does that by assisting companies in the drug and device discovery process. “We are particularly critical to growing the biotechnology industry in Memphis, as our expertise is geared toward assisting new industry in their product or drug development,” said Jennings. CirQuest doesn’t just assist companies with development of new drugs and technologies, Jennings said the company is able to work through to the commercialization process. Response time is oftentimes the most critical element when a person has been involved in an accident and sustained possible life-threatening injuries. Sometimes response time can even be the difference between life and death. So, for many patients, having an air ambulatory service in the city has been the contributing factor to their survival. The Wing, which is a non-profit air-medical transport consortium of The Elvis Presley Trauma Center, Baptist Health Care Systems and Methodist/ Le Bonheur Health Care, recently celebrated its 25th year of service to the city. Hospital Wing provides inter-hospital transfers as well as emergency scene calls within a 150-mile radius of Memphis. Since the company has been in existence, they’ve amassed more than 40,000 flight hours. Hospital Wing currently owns five helicopters and aboard every flight is a paramedic or nurse who is able to stabilize the patient during the ride to the hospital. Hospital Wing Hospital Wing Danny Dunn, chief pilot for Hospital Wing. Photo by Troy Glasgow. Hospital Wing officially celebrated their 25th anniversary in June with an open house at the Memphis hangar. “This is an important milestone for us,” said Lisa Harlow, Hospital Wing office manager. “In the past 25 years, we have gone from one facility and about 35 employees to four facilities and over 70 employees.” In addition to the Memphis hangar and base, which is located in Downtown Memphis, Hospital Wing has opened three other bases. In August 2004, they opened an expansion based in Brownsville, TN. In March 2008, Hospital Wing opened a base in Oxford, Miss. And, in September of last year, Hospital Wing opened its fourth base in Selmer, TN. All bases are staffed with medical crew 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Dr. William Novick, International Children’s Heart Foundation Dr. William Novick, International Children’s Heart Foundation’s medical director and founder. Photo by Troy Glasgow. Dr. William Novick international Children’s Heart foundation Dr. William Novick was a resident studying to become a surgeon when he decided that he wanted to devote his expertise and time to serving the needs of underprivileged children. After witnessing his professors at the University of Alabama provide services to children from developing countries around the world, he made good on his promise to do the same. Novick, medical director and founder of the International Children’s Heart Foundation, recently returned from his latest mission trip to the Ukraine. Each year, Novick spends anywhere from 34-40 weeks out of the country performing surgeries or attending national conferences each year. Outside of heart transplants, Novick is able to treat a variety of heart defects and perform various surgeries. What started as a one-man operation has grown to include 11 other staff members. “We started in 1993 with a paid staff of one and an annual budget of $80,000, now we have a paid staff of 12, with an annual budget that last year approached $6 million,” said Novick. Dr. Novick serves as the Paul Nemir M.D., Jr., Professor of International Child Health and Surgery with the University of Tennessee, a position that allows him to work full-time to perform surgeries and build pediatric heart programs in third world countries. “This Endowed Professorship was specifically created and funded at UT to allow me to pursue this unique career of mine full time,” he said. Novick’s work helps to shine a light on the city of Memphis through the work he does internationally. In addition, UT medical students get to travel with him to learn more about pediatric heart disease. “We now have a credited elective in surgery and pediatrics for senior level student to travel abroad with me.” Dr. Jay Pershad Le Bonheur Dr. Jay Pershad, Le Bonheur Children’s HOSPITAL Children’s HOSPital Children are not just miniature adults. Perhaps no one realizes that more than the medical specialists at Le Bonheur Children’s Medical Center here in Memphis. One such medical specialist is Le Bonheur pediatric emergency specialist Dr. Jay Pershad. With more than 5,000 hospitals in the country, Pershad points out that about 250 are dedicated to meeting the needs of children. And Le Bonheur is one of those hospitals. “In a hospital setting, when you have someone who is not used to seeing kids all the time, they could miss a red flag,” he said. “There are situations where you need someone who is trained with taking care of children, that’s what we at Le Bonheur do.” For 14 years, Pershad has worked as an emergency room attending physician but recently, though, he moved into a new position. He has taken over as medical director of Le Bonheur’s transport and communication operations. “Not only do we take care of kids who walk into our center, but we also take care of kids who come in through our communication center,” he said. For Pershad, caring for children is his passion. He said he feels blessed to be able to help kids feel better. “It gives me a tremendous amount of satisfaction,” he said. “If I can ensure that our kids are healthy, then they can grow up to be productive citizens and significant contributors to our society.” Dr. Jay Pershad, Pediatric Emergency Medical Specialist for Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital. Photo by Troy Glasgow. Methodist University Transplant Institute Methodist university transplant institute Several years ago Jim Giusti made the decision to leave his hometown of Pittsburgh and move to Memphis to be with his new wife. It was just easier, he said, for him to make the move instead of asking her to shut down her business and uproot to move to be with him. Giusti had been having issues with his liver before he moved to Memphis. After he moved here, he found a new primary care physician and soon realized he would need a new liver. The discovery led to the forging of a relationship between Giusti and the doctors and nurses at Methodist University Transplant Institute. He said he met with the medical staff at the nationally renowned transplant institute in early July 2008. The next month he had the liver transplant. He’s just one of the many patients who have received transplants there. And Giusti said he couldn’t be more pleased with the outcome. “The people I met at Methodist were absolutely wonderful,” he said, “all the way from the social workers to the financial people to the doctors and nurses. Everybody was just fabulous as far as I am concerned.” Methodist University Transplant Institute recently moved into the 4,000 square foot space next to Methodist University Hospital. The program director is Dr. James Eason, who moved to Memphis from New Orleans, following Hurricane Katrina in 2005. The center employs about 200 people. Jim Giusti, former transplant patient at Methodist University Transplant Institute playing a round of golf at the Windyke Country Club. Photo by Troy Glasgow. Dr. Kenneth Robinson Dr. kenneth robinson, Shelby County Health Policy advisor Everyone should have access to fresh fruit and other healthy alternatives. On just about every corner there’s a convenience store that offers a variety of sweet treats and other snacks. But, fresh fruit markets are not as plentiful. That’s why Dr. Kenneth Robinson started the South Memphis Farmers Market on the northeast corner of South Parkway East and Mississippi Blvd. A $250,000 grant from the Plough Foundation is funding renovation of that site. As part of the renovation efforts, a new covered area will be built to serve vendors and renovate the existing building. Robinson also was recently appointed the public health policy advisor for Shelby County Mayor Mark H. Luttrell, Jr. As policy advisor, he will be responsible for advising and offering suggestions related to numerous healthcare initiatives for Shelby County. Some of the issues he will be addressing in his health policy role are ways to reduce infant mortality in Shelby County, ways to combat obesity in our community and to build partnerships that will strengthen efforts to control the spread of HIV. “I have a career-long, personal and professional commitment toward reducing racial and ethnic health disparities,” Robinson, who also serves as pastor at St. Andrew AME Church, said. “I have an interest which is always in the forefront of the advice I provide and the initiatives I catalyze and lead as a public health physician. Indeed, the epicenter of those disparities often rests in communities like the one I serve in South Memphis. I’m clear that – as both physician and pastor – I’m called to “heal the land.” To read more about the South Memphis Farmer’s Market, capture this QR code with your smartphone. Dr. Kenneth Robinson, Shelby County Health Policy Advisor at the South Memphis Farmer’s Market. Photo by Troy Glasgow. Gabriella Salinas, team captain of Danny’s Dream Team Gabriella Salinas, team captain of Danny’s Dream team When she was just seven years old, doctors told Gabriella Salinas that she only had a few weeks to live. What had first been erroneously diagnosed as a pinched nerve was actually a tumor. The Bolivia native was diagnosed with Ewings Sarcoma, a rare form of bone cancer at Mt. Sinai Hospital in New York. To receive treatment, her family was told they would need to come up with $250,000. When her father called his sister to tell her the news, she broke down and started crying. She was working a job as a waitress then and one of her customers asked why she was so distraught. That customer happened to be a reporter who wrote about Gabriella’s situation beginning a series of events that brought her and her family to Memphis where she was able to undergo successful treatment for free. In 1996, Gabriella became a patient at St. Jude Children’s Hospital. Though her family never had to worry about paying a dime, Gabriella continues to feel indebted to the hospital. “I can’t imagine my life without St. Jude,” she said in a recent interview. Gabriella recently graduated from Christian Brothers University with a bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry and she works in the chemical biology and therapeutics department at St. Jude. As testament to the gratitude she feels toward the institution that saved her life, she and a team of other former St. Jude patients, “Danny’s Dream Team,” are planning to participate in St. Jude’s annual marathon in December. The group participated last year and raised more than $6,000. This year, the group will have more members and they hope to raise even more money for the hospital that worked tirelessly to save their lives. Roman Ziegler, Joel Alsup, Lindsay Harwell and Gabriella Salinas. Photo by Troy Glasgow. the urban Child institute The Urban Child Institute Eugene Cashman, president and CEO of The Urban Child Institute. Photo by Troy Glasgow. National discourse has been centered lately on education and solutions to equalize educational opportunities for all students. Research has shown that preschool years are the most critical for children, the time when the greatest impact can be made on those young minds. That is just the message that The Urban Child Institute works tirelessly to get out into the community. The Institute president and CEO Eugene Cashman said the most vital message his organization needs to get out into the community is that public educational funding is not being spent on these children, despite the fact that 80 percent of their brain structure is being formed during these early years. It’s important during those first three years to talk to a child, read to a child, play with a child,” Cashman said. “It doesn’t cost anything, but it’s basically what provides activity and stimulus for the child, and helps promote optimum brain development.” Cashman added that the institute is trying to spread the message that “The earliest investment in a child has the greatest return.” As part of its efforts of educating the community about the health and well-being of children, the institute has several key initiatives. They are the Conditions Affecting Neurocognitive Development and Learning in Early Childhood (CANDLE) Research Study, a longitudinal observational study of the development and ability to learn in children from birth to age three; Touch, Talk, Read and Play, a program that encourages parents to provide positive stimulation during those formative years, and releasing the Annual Data Book, which reports on the state of children in Memphis and Shelby County. UT Medical Group featuring Dr. Sandeep Samant ut Medical Group featuring Dr. Sandeep Samant UT Medical Group is the private practice arm of the UT Health Science Center College of Medicine. With more than 325 doctors who remain actively involved in teaching and research, UTMG is on the forefront of the latest medical developments. “At UT Medical Group, we tend to attract physicians who want to teach medical students and residents who also want to research in their field,” said Jill Powelson, vice president of physician services. “Our affiliation with UT Health Science Center gives us an edge in physician recruitment. Teaching and conducting research helps to keep the doctors up-to-date in their specialties.” Many UTMG doctors, such as Dr. Sandeep Samant, have been recognized in their field of specialty by Best Doctors® or Top Doctors™ listings. Dr. Samant has had the opportunity to practice medicine in other places throughout the country, but it’s Memphis that he has chosen to call home. Samant, a UT Medical Group otolaryngologist, has been a head and neck specialist with UTMG for 12 years. Samant specializes in treating head and neck tumors and has brought several innovative procedures such as minimally invasive thyroid surgery and robotic head and neck surgery. In fact, he was the first surgeon to perform a robotic head and neck surgery program in the Mid-South area. To read more about Dr. Samant and two other amazing UTMG doctors, capture this QR code with your smartphone. Dr. Sandeep Samant, an otolaryngologist at Methodist University Hospital. Photo by Troy Glasgow. UT Ad UT Medical Group, Inc. www.utmedicalgroup.com • Same-day & advance appointments available* • Convenient locations throughout the city • Most insurances accepted 901-866-UTMG * Same-day appointments only available at select locations. Call to ma k appoin e an tment today ! Style Preview Fall Fashion Secrets from The Avenue Talbots Neutral Totes Express Military-Inspired Outerwear Ann Taylor Francesca’s Collections Embellished Handbag Francesca’s Collections Bold Print Bangle Charming Charlie Natural Canvas Fedoras Ann Taylor Banana Republic Buckle Statement Jewelry Buckle Classic Denim facebook.com/avenuecollierville shoptheavenue.com Educating Legal Minds Since 1962 memphis.edu/law • 901.678.2421 1 North Front St., Memphis, TN 38103 INSIDE THE CHAMBER ON THE FRONTLINES with special guest Lodie Biggs Shareholder, Baker Donelson Bearman Caldwell & Berkowitz Biggs works to keep Memphis a contender by CHrISTINA MEEk Lodie Biggs loves his job. Success in his line of work means numerous people end up as the winner – the Memphis area, companies, the newly employed and ultimately citizens and taxpayers. A shareholder at the law firm Baker Donelson Bearman Caldwell & Berkowitz, Biggs’ legal work focuses on real estate and economic development. “A majority of my practice is dealing with companies who are expanding in the Memphis MSA (Memphis Metropolitan Statistical Area—Mississippi, Tennessee and Arkansas) or locating here,” Biggs said. “In the last three months we’ve closed on Electrolux, worked on Mitsubishi, done the Trane, Praxair and City Brewery PILOTs (payment in lieu of taxes). They all come in waves and you’ve got a week to get these people talking to the state, the chamber, the city and the county.” Lodie says that the deciding factor for companies wanting to relocate generally comes down to cost. “Everyone has focused on the best infrastructure and the best platform to do their business at the lowest cost and the incentives that are given are very material every time,” Biggs said, adding that Memphis is competing against other regions that are 34 doing the same things or more, even though Memphis has an inherent advantage with our logistical assets. “When you put incentives on top of that,” he said, “it’s very hard not to choose Memphis.” Communities offer varying degrees and types of incentives, but Biggs is adamant that Memphis is in a very competitive position compared to other cities. “When you come to Memphis or other Southern cities, you’re looking at the majority of your tax hit being property tax, so abating a portion of the property tax is very important,” he said. “If we didn’t have that tool, we would be uncompetitive.” While most companies expanding or relocating here do apply for PILOTs, which is based on the number of jobs and capital investment they’re bringing to Memphis, Biggs says that most also want to be fair in the abatement they seek. Sometimes, he’s even had companies tell him ‘no thanks’ when he tells them there are additional incentives they can go after. “As a lawyer, you want to advocate for your client to get the best deal,” Biggs said. “A lot of companies don’t want to push; they plan to be in the community for a long time and want to be fair.” Memphis Crossroads | www.memphischamber.com Another attractive element to companies besides incentives is a streamlined process for obtaining those incentives and other things like permits. Right now, companies seeking a PILOT go before the Industrial Development Board one time, which changed from a two-step process a few years ago. That may not seem like a big leap, but Biggs said it goes a long way to busy company executives and makes the area look more attractive by being as efficient as possible. Biggs also said that having the City of Memphis, Shelby County, State of Tennessee and the Greater Memphis Chamber collaborating and having a working, efficient model to deal with the companies to cut the red tape makes those companies feel like they’re wanted here. “Blues City Brewery, a company that has no connection to Memphis, bought Hardy Bottling and two other shops elsewhere,” he said. “They’re coming to Memphis and taking that facility, spending substantial amounts of money, hiring 500 people and they love Memphis. They’ll have stellar diversity numbers and great job numbers. This is great for everyone.” Biggs goes on to say that the process companies go through for incentives and permits needs to remain efficient. To find out more about the work Lodie Biggs does, visit: www.bakerdonelson.com/lodiev-biggs/ To find out more about some of the latest projects Lodie has worked on, visit: www.memphischamber.com/ Community/Work/JobHunting.aspx INSIDE THE CHAMBER “I think the reason we’re getting good projects in a bad economy is that people are realizing the logistical advantage we have and that we’re a fairly low cost state and city to do business in,” he said. “We’re family friendly and eager to add to the infrastructure.” Companies are moving their higher cost operations here and the next step, Biggs says, is to continue to court them to move their headquarters here. “I feel like at the end of the day, everybody involved from government to citizens win,” he said. “We’re all winners. The process is to create jobs and that makes everybody happy. I love meeting new companies who want to come here—it’s fantastic.” Lodie Biggs, shareholder with Donelson Bearman Caldwell & Berkowitz. Photo by Troy Glasgow. INSIDE THE CHAMBER Kevin Leathers goes for a run on Mud Island. Photo by Troy Glasgow. MEMPHIS FIT with Kevin Leathers How to avoid overuse injuries One of the biggest challenges in getting fit is staying healthy and injury-free. Once we find our motivation to get up and get moving, we sometimes get carried away, ignore our body’s warning signs and overdo it. Then we find ourselves injured and our training put on hold. Whether you are just getting off the couch or training for a marathon, you are asking your body to do things it is not accustomed to doing. You are applying additional stresses to joints and muscles and you need to allow your body time to absorb the new workload. There are a few guidelines to help identify and deal with the aches and pains of getting in shape: • Expect to get nagging injuries. • “Nuke” injuries in the making with immediate aggressive action. • Admit most injuries are caused. Self-inflicted damage. • Do not be afraid to seek professional advice. 4 Stages Of An Injury Stage 1: Delayed onset pain and soreness. This is normal and means you are working your muscles in new ways. Allowing your body to absorb this damage makes the muscle stronger and fitter. (Practice daily preventive maintenance like yoga, stretching and proper nutrition) Stage 2: Discomfort or tightness while exercising. Your body is telling you that it is still a bit worn out from previous sessions. If it loosens up and decreases as you continue to work out, then proceed with caution. (RICE: Rest. Ice. Compression. Elevation) Stage 3: Pain while exercising that does not decrease. Cannot complete normal workout. (STOP. Your body is telling you loud and clear that it is a real injury. Go into rest/ alternate exercise mode to avoid Stage 4 at all costs) Stage 4: Severe pain, cannot exercise. Fitness derailed until injury heals. To find out how to be proactive, prevent injuries and learn treatment techniques, capture this QR code with your smartphone to read Kevin’s latest blog. with Jennifer Blake It’s a buyer’s market, right? It’s certainly true for those wanting to buy a house. What about employers with open positions to fill? The unemployment rate for June 2011 in Shelby County was 11.1%, up from 10% in May 2011, according to the TN Department of Labor. National and statewide unemployment rates aren’t much different. So for employers in the greater Memphis region it really might be a buyer’s market when it comes to hiring. However, even in an economy with a large available labor pool you’ll have jobs you can’t fill because you need someone with a unique set of skills. Often these jobs are what the U.S. Department of Labor identifies as “Bright Outlook” occupations. These are jobs that are expected to grow rapidly in the next several years, will have large numbers of job openings, or are new and emerging occupations. (For a complete list of these occupations, go to www.onetonline.org.) For example, the Tennessee Department of Labor anticipates the number of available positions for physical therapists will increase by 24% and radiation therapists by 31% over a ten-year period, from 2008 to 2018. For healthcare organizations looking to fill these jobs, it may not feel like a buyer’s market. Healthcare isn’t alone. The Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) publishes an annual LINE (Leading Indicators of National Employment) Report, which measures, among other things, how difficult it is for firms to recruit candidates to fill positions of greatest strategic importance to their Mining unique skills in a buyer's market companies. In the August 2011 LINE Report, SHRM reports a continuing rise in recruiting difficulty in the manufacturing and service sectors, suggesting “the rise in recruiting difficulty may be attributed to new or enhanced skill requirements for newly created high-level jobs.” When recruiting for hard-tofill jobs, employers might consider implementing methods they wouldn’t necessarily use for easier-tofill positions. Employee Referrals – Employee referral programs encourage word-of-mouth advertising by employees who are essentially ambassadors for the organization. An employee’s credibility with personal acquaintances can be a powerful tool in selling your organization. Employee referrals may also be a good way to reach quality candidates who aren’t actively looking for another job. Reach Beyond Geography – Is there an area of the country where demand has decreased for a particular skill set? Consider going outside the typical recruitment area and find people willing to relocate in order to continue in their chosen profession. Compensation – Remember the laws of supply and demand and keep your compensation plan competitive with your target market. Hiring and retaining individuals for hard-to-fill jobs depends on knowing the current salary market and adjusting your company’s compensation plan, even if just temporarily. Flexible Work Arrangements – Is there a candidate who wants to work two days a week from home? How about the individual who requests unconventional work hours? In some cases, working from home may not be feasible and having appropriate staffing levels may require an employee’s presence during certain hours of the workday. But many times accommodating a candidate’s personal needs can be a win-win for the employer and the candidate. Be Proactive – Some organizations may be positioned to “create their own labor pool” through training or education initiatives. According to the Memphis Business Journal (MBJ), August 12-18, 2011, Baptist College of Health Sciences will introduce a medical laboratory science degree with classes starting in the fall of 2012. As stated in the MBJ article, Baptist Corporate initiated the move for Baptist College to offer a four-year program due to the shortage of medical science personnel projected for the future. As a “buyer” of talent it’s important to recognize when the need for a mission-critical skill exceeds availability, even in the midst of a relatively abundant general talent pool. These moments are not for the timid! Be resourceful and willing to take exceptional steps to attract those with special skills. Jennifer Blake is a Senior Consultant with The Centre Group, a human asset management consulting firm. With over 25 years in the human resources profession, Jennifer provides consulting expertise in most areas of HR, working with clients in a variety of industries. www.thecentregroup.com Memphis Crossroads | www.memphischamber.com 37 INSIDE THE CHAMBER THE HUMAN SPIRIT INSIDE THE CHAMBER MID-SOUTH QUALITy PRODUCTION CENTER with Lara Wistock MSQPC offers Lean Six Sigma training to businesses in the Mid-South Lean Six Sigma has recently garnered national media attention, and many Fortune 500 companies have implemented the practice, impacting their bottom-line with results in the range of $500,000 to $1 million. The Mid-South Quality Productivity Center (MSQPC) offers Six Sigma training right here in the Memphis area for both small and large organizations. So, what’s all the hype about? Lean Six Sigma is not new to the corporate world. It was originally developed by Motorola, USA in the 1970s and was inspired by decades of quality improvement methodologies. As of 2006, Motorola reported more than $17 billion in savings from Six Sigma initiatives. What is Lean Six Sigma? Simply put, Lean Six Sigma is a statistical method employed to eliminate waste and improve efficiency in an organization’s processes. The process identifies 38 and removes causes of defects and creates an infrastructure of people, such as “Black Belts” and “Green Belts,” in organizations who are experts in the process. By the late 1990s, about two-thirds of Fortune 500 companies had begun Six Sigma initiatives. Today, Six Sigma is not just limited to manufacturing, but to any organization that wishes to take a refreshing outlook on business process improvement for how it defines, measures, analyzes, improves and controls both operations and financials. MSQPC, a partner organization between the Greater Memphis Chamber and Southwest Tennessee Community College offers both Black Belt and Green Belt Lean Six Sigma training. The center provides quality training and consulting for the general public and at a discount to Greater Memphis Chamber members. “We believe that offering Six Sigma training is critical for Memphis and Mid-South organizations because it promotes Memphis Crossroads | www.memphischamber.com data-based decision making, reduces cycle time in the design, redesign of products and services, and ensures sustained improvement of key and critical processes throughout the organization, which, in turn, increases customer loyalty and retention,” said Donald Fisher, Ph.D., executive director and CEO of MSQPC. A newly formed partnership between MSQPC and Methodist Healthcare focuses on Black Belt training. The Memphis Lean Six Sigma Institute, established in 2011, merges the best Six Sigma training of the Methodist Quality Institute with MSQPC’s existing Six Sigma Institute. Black Belts apply Six Sigma to specific projects and focuses on execution. This training runs from July through December and is taught two to three days per month, which allows more flexibility for participant schedules. Throughout the training, participants will be asked to complete a project for their company, and at the end of the course, will become certified Black Belts. INSIDE THE CHAMBER MSQPC presently offers Green Belt training through an outside vendor but plans on developing its own Green Belt institute during the second half of 2012 using local talent to conduct the training. Green Belts are employees within companies who use Six Sigma implementation under the direction of Black Belts. This course runs a week at a time for a total of two weeks. After completing a project that saves their organization money and/or improves process outputs, participants become certified Green Belts. Plans are underway to develop Six Sigma Yellow Belt training. Yellow Belts have basic training in Six Sigma. The Mid-South Quality Productivity Center presents the next Green Belt training October 10-14 and November 14-18. This is a public workshop, designed for anyone in business that would like to improve their company’s operations or financials. Those interested can register by calling MSQPC at 901-543-3530. The Mid-South Quality Productivity Center is a partnership between the Greater Memphis Chamber and Southwest Tennessee Community College whose mission is to champion market excellence for organizations by offering Baldrige-based assessments, consulting, quality/ productivity enhancements and employee development. For more information, please contact MSQPC at 901-543-3530. Memphis Crossroads | www.memphischamber.com 39 Memphis by the 's • Memphis is #1 logistics/distribution hub according to • Business Facilities Magazine • Memphis is the nation’s 3rd busiest trucking corridor • Memphis is the nation’s 3rd largest rail center • 3 Fortune 500 companies (FedEx, Autozone, International Paper) • Memphis is one of the top ten cities to start and grow a business (according to Entrepreneur magazine) • Shelby County is the 4th largest orthopedic device manufacturing center in the U.S. • The Regional Medical Center is the 3rd busiest Level-1 trauma center in the nation • Memphis is home to more musicians per capita than any other city • Memphis is the 7th best city for young artists by Flavorpill • American Scientist named Memphis 4th-Kindest City in the U.S. To see more of our Memphis Bragging Rights, visit www. memphischamber.com. PHOTO BY LANCE MURPHEY “Our first prayer would be that you never have to use us, but in the event that you did, that we’re there.” ALLEN BURNETT Program Director, Hospital Wing medical helicopter service UNDErWrITTEN By: In Memphis, success has a sound of its own. memphischamber.com/soundtrack cocoabeens communications Communications & Marketing Consuting Firm Ms. Courtney Meeks, Project Manager 3485 Poplar Avenue Memphis, TN 38111 (901) 313-4600 Email: [email protected] www.cocoabeens.com D David's Frames & Art Framing Mr. David Stough, Owner 3151 Poplar Avenue Memphis, TN 38111 (901) 323-5557 E Experience Art in Memphis, dba RiverArtsFest Arts Festival Mr. Lee Askew, P.O. Box 40001 Memphis, TN 38137 (901) 278-6868 www.riverartsfestmemphis.org A Aaron Thomas Company Pakaging Services Mr. Jim McCornack, 5649 Distribution Drive Memphis, TN 38141 (901) 360-0516 Fax: (901) 360-0573 www.packaging.com Advanced Toxicology Network DRUG TESTING MEDICAL LAB Mr. Jim Mussatto, CEO 3560 Air Center Cove, Suite 101 Memphis, TN 38118 (901) 794-5770 Fax: (901) 794-6460 www.atnlabs.com AlliedBarton Security Services Contract security service Ms Penny Estes, Business Development Manager 200 Jefferson Avenue, Suite 910 Memphis, TN 38103 (901) 488-1638 Fax: (901) 527-0344 www.alliedbarton.com Alzheimer's Association Alzheimer Ms. Renee Jolly, Manager of Special Events 326 Ellsworth Street Memphis, TN 38111 (901) 565-0011 Fax: (901) 565-9550 www.alz.org American Cancer Society VOLUNTEER CANCER HEALTH AGENCY Mr. Clint Cummins, TN Corporate Systems Director 1378 Union Avenue Memphis, TN 38104 (901) 278-2000 Fax: (901) 278-2020 www.cancer.org APEX Wildlife Control LLC Animal Removal/ Pest Control Dr. Charles Harris, 8501 Macon Road, Suite 101 Cordova, TN 38018 (901) 598-8555 Fax: (901) 759-3460 Email: [email protected] www.apexwildlifecontrol.com Apollo Dist, LLC Hotel/Motel Supplies Mr. Todd Farris, Owner/President 1862 Latham Street Memphis, TN 38106 (901) 543-0809 Fax: (901) 543-0809 www.apollo-memphis.com Ark Roofing ROOFING Mr Matt Kruger, Sales Executive 4920 Pleasant Hill Road Memphis, TN 38118 (901) 362-1007 Fax: (901) 362-1973 www.arkroof.com 42 Avspar International Corporation Mr. Steve Spargo, President P.O. Box 751825 Memphis, TN 38175 (901) 365-1015 Ext:113 Fax: (901) 365-4030 Email: [email protected] www.avspar.com F B Farm Bureau Insurance Insurance Agency Mr. Sandy Abrams, Agency Manager 4050 North Germantown Road Memphis, TN 38133 (901) 386-3614 Fax: (901) 386-9491 www.fbitn.com Background Screening Associates Background Screenings for Businesses Ms. Estella Ford, Owner 3239 Lammermuir Road Memphis, TN 38128 (866) 936-4473 Email: [email protected] Find Your Waistline FITNESS AND NUTRITION CENTER Mr. Charles White, Owner 376 North Cleveland Street, Suite 102 Memphis, TN 38104 (901) 726-4626 Email: [email protected] Bardog Tavern Restaurant/Bar Mr. Aldo Dean, Owner 73 Monroe Avenue Memphis, TN 38103 (901) 275-8752 Email: [email protected] www.bardogtavern.com Four Points by Sheraton Memphis East Ms. Allsion Bodmer, 5877 Poplar Avenue Memphis, TN 38119 (901) 767-6300 H C Harding Academy of Memphis PRIVATE CHRISTIAN SCHOOLS AND PRE-SCHOOL Mr. Allen Gillespie, Director of Advancement 1100 Cherry Road Memphis, TN 38117-5421 (901) 767-4494 Fax: (901) 763-4949 www.hardinglions.org/ Cafe Eclectic Cafe, Bakery, Coffee Shop Ms. Catherine Boulden, Owner 603 North McLean Memphis, TN 38107 (901) 725-1718 Fax: (901) 725-1721 cafeeclectic.net Hogan Truck Leasing Truck Leasing Ms. Kasandra Crook, Rental Sales Manager 4510 New Getwell Road Memphis, TN 38118 (901) 375-0024 Fax: (901) 375-4220 www.hogan1.com Carlton-Bates ELECTRONICS DISTRIBUTORS Ms. Tara Miller, Field Sales Representative 4477 Winchester Road, Building C, Suite Memphis, TN 38118 (901) 433-3475 Fax: (901) 360-9765 www.carltonbates.com Holiday Inn &Suites Wolfchase Galleria Ms. Peggy Oman, Director of Sales 2751 New Brunswick Road Memphis, TN 38133 (901) 266-1952 Fax: (901) 382-5551 Email: [email protected] holidayinn.com/wolfchasetn BrightStar Staffing of Memphis Kid care Ms. Kaye Schultz, Branch Manager 6300 Poplar Avenue, Suite 103 Memphis, TN 38119 (901) 522-6899 www.brightstarcare.com ChemStation MidSouth Industrial Cleaning and Process Chemicals Mr. Roy Brown, 3157 Bellbrook Center Drive Memphis, TN 38116 (901) 345-5333 Fax: (901) 396-0403 www.chemstation.com Chyten Educational Services Tutoring and Test preparation. Mr. Herman Jorgensen, IV , Owner 376 Perkins Extended, Suite 101 Memphis, TN 38117 (901) 654-3993 Fax: (901) 654-3995 www.chyten.com Cloud for Good Mr. Tal Frankfurt, Owner 516 Tennessee Street, Suite 403 Memhis, TN 38103 (901) 213-6188 Fax: (901) 544-7163 Email: [email protected] www.cloud4good.com Memphis Crossroads | www.memphischamber.com Jubilee Memphis dba Five Guys Restaurant Mr. Seth Hargett, President 1315 Ridgeway, Suite 100 Memphis, TN 38119 (901) 680-5386 www.jubileerestaurants.com K K'PreSha, LLC Men and Women Shoes, Apparel, Accessories Ms. Kimberly Taylor, 323 South Main Street Memphis, TN 38103 (901) 523-2433 Email: [email protected] www.kpresha.com Kumon of Southwind Learning Center Mrs. Neena Maniktahla, 4202 Hacks Cross Memphis, TN 38125 (901) 628-2735 www.kumon.com L Labor Finders of TN TEMPORARY STAFFING Mr. Doug Barnes, Branch Manager 6039 Knight Arnold Road Memphis, TN 38115 (901) 794-1404 Fax: (901) 794-2201 Email: [email protected] www.laborfinders.com Law Offices of Cary Schwimmer LAW FIRM ATTORNEY LABOR EMPLOYMENT LAW Mr. Cary Schwimmer, 1922 Exeter, Suite 5 Germantown, TN 38138 (901) 753-5537 Fax: (901) 756-9022 www.schwimmerfirm.com Lockton Companies Insurance Brokers Mr. Joe Lammel, Executive Vice President 6000 Poplar Avenue, Suite 250 Memphis, TN 38119 (901) 767-6969 Fax: (901) 767-6498 www.lcokton.com M M-Pact Community Outreach Inc. NON-PROFIT COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION Ms. Lena O'Kain, Founder & Executive Director 693 Looney Avenue, # 9 Memphis, TN 38107 (901) 562-7020 Fax: (267) 430-5362 www.theresawayout.org Memphis Fire Fighters Association, IAFF Local 1784 (901) 386-3129 Mona Spa and Laser, LLC BEAUTY SALONS Ms. Mona Sappenfield, Owner 5101 Sanderlin Centre, Suite 102 Memphis, TN 38117 (901) 683-0048 Fax: (901) 683-0061 Email: [email protected] www.spamona.com Home Care of Memphis, LLC DBA Home Instead Senior Care IN-HOME PERSONAL CARE ASSISTANCE Mr. Nick Drzyzga, Director of Regional Development 988 Reddoch Cove Memphis, TN 38119 (901) 682-8600 Fax: (901) 685-5114 www.homeinsteadmemphis.com Mr. Rooter Plumbling of Memphis PLUMBING SERVICE & REPAIR Mr. Andy Johnson, Vice President 5702 Summer Avenue Memphis, TN 38134 (901) 327-4441 Fax: (901) 458-0080 www.memphis.mrrooter.com HRC Medical Hormone Replacement Ms. Kristy Smith, Regional Manager 1790 Kirby Parkway Memphis, TN 38138 (901) 969-2700 www.hrcmedical.com Newk's Express Cafe RESTAURANT Mr. Nick Lancaster, Director of Operations 5336 Poplar Avenue Memphis, TN 38117 (901) 820-0415 Fax: (901) 820-0823 Email: [email protected] www.newkscafe.com J JAV Partnership Industrial and Manufacturing Buildings for lease or rental Mrs. Jennifer Nolte, 5404 Forest HIll Irene Memphis, TN 38125 (901) 482-9555 N O O' Neal, Inc. ENGINEERING & CONSTRUCTION Mr. Brian Gallagher, Director of Marketing 10 Falcon Crest Drive Greenville, SC 29681 (864) 298-2037 Fax: (864) 298-6350 Email: [email protected] www.onealinc.com Office Headshots Profeesional Business Portraits Mr. Gary Baldwin, Owner 4395 Wind Tree Drive Bartlett, TN 38135 (901) 413-8751 www.officeheadshots.com P Paragon National Bank BANK Ms. Ashley Cullum, Business Development 5400 Poplar Avenue Suite 38119 Memphis, TN 38119 (901) 273-2904 Fax: (901) 333-0602 www.bankparagon.com Parker Prints T-Shirt Printing Ms. Cathy Furr, 1377 South Lauderdale Memphis, TN 38106 (901) 946-7844 Fax: (901) 946-7848 Email: [email protected] www.parkerprintsinc.com R Restaurant Iris FINE DINING RESTAURANT Mrs. Meghan Heimke, Marketing Director 2146 Monroe Avenue Memphis, TN 38104 (901) 590-2828 Fax: (901) 590-2828 Email: [email protected] www.restaurantiris.com Rhodes, Lauck & Associates COMPUTER ACCESSORIES & SUPPLIES Mr. Phil Lauck, Jr. , CEO 3268 Commercial Parkway Memphis, TN 38116-0038 (901) 332-3000 Fax: (901) 332-6784 S Senior Care Management Solutions NON-MEDICAL CARE FOR SENIORS & DISABLED ADULTS Mr. Jason Gibert, Owner 668 Colonial Road Memphis, TN 38117 (901) 387-3837 Fax: (901) 767-6814 ww.scmsmemphis.com Shelby County Assessor's Office GOVERNMENT AGENCIES Ms. Cheyenne Johnson, Assessor of Property 1075 Mullins Station Road Memphis, TN 38134 (901) 379-7333 Fax: (901) 379-7199 www.assessor.shelby.tn.us Siemens CONTROL SYSTEMS & REGULATORS Mr. Nick Musarra, Senior Sales Representative 7600 Appling Center Drive Memphis, TN 38133 (901) 377-6223 Signs Now SIGN COMPANIES Ms. Mary Jane Lessley, Co-Owner 4945 American Way, Suite 8 Memphis, TN 38118 (901) 368-0784 Fax: (901) 368-1415 Email: [email protected] www.signsnow.com Silver Linings Mr. Tim Parks, Owner 539 Rienzi Drive Memphis, TN 38107 (901) 522-8999 Standard Insurance Services INSURANCE Ms. Vinnie Standard, Agent 3866 Springfield Drive Memphis, TN 38128 (901) 568-0431 State Farm Insurance/ Ruby Williams INSURANCE & FINANCIAL SERVICES Mr. Ruby Williams, Agency Owner 3620 Austin Peay Highway ,Suite 1 Memphis, TN 38128 (901) 388-0000 Fax: (901) 388-0002 www.callruby.org State Systems, Inc. FIRE PROTECTION EQUIPMENT Mr. Robert McBride, President 3755 Cherry Road Memphis, TN 38118 (901) 542-0612 Fax: (901) 542-0622 Email: [email protected] www.statesystemsinc.com The Thompson Firm HUMAN RESOURCE CONSULTING, PUBLISHER OF HR PROFESSIONAL MAGAZINE Mrs. Cynthia Thompson, Prinicpal 6344 Old Orchard Cove Memphis, TN 38119 (901) 598-0123 Fax: (901) 205-0628 www.thethompsonfirm.biz The Transportation Firm Ms. Kim Mundy, Office Administrator 384 East Goodman Road, Suite 254 Southaven, MS 38671 (662) 510-6064 Fax: (662) 510-6065 www.transportfirm.com stiQRd Mobile Application Mr. Aaron Prather, 516 Tennessee Street Memphis, TN 38103 (901) 517-3898 Fax: (901) 544-7163 Email: [email protected] www.stiqrd.com Thompson Machinery INDUSTRIAL EQUIPMENT SUPPLIES SALES SERVICE Mr. Reggie Dill, President P. O. Box 16992 Memphis, TN 38186-0992 (901) 332-3051 Fax: (901) 345-2139 www.thompsonmachinery.com Strategic Financial Partners FINANCIAL PLANNING INSURANCE CONSULTANT Ms. Rosie Graves, Marketing Director 795 Ridge Lake Boulevard, Suite 200 Memphis, TN 38120-9475 (901) 767-5951 Fax: (901) 767-8185 www.strategicfinancialpartners.com Three by Me Design GRAPHIC DESIGN-CUSTOM Ms. Rebecca Z. Cannon, Owner 1131 West Perkins Road Memphis, TN 38117 (901) 634-8808 www.threebyme.com Sugar Services, LLC CANE SUGAR REFINING Mr. Dan Barton, President PO Box 1402 Memphis, TN 38103 (901) 523-0045 Fax: (901) 522-1884 Synergy Technologies Group LLC AUDIO, VIDEO AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS DESIGN INTERGRATION Mr. Anthony Milton, Principal 2701 Union Avenue Extended, Suite 510 Memphis, TN 38112 (901) 454-6216 Fax: (901) 454-6217 Email: [email protected] www.synergytechgroup.com T T-Star Limousine Limousine/ Transportation Mr. Donell Todd, President 6236 East Shelby Drive Memphis, TN 38141 (901) 853-5466 Email: [email protected] www.Tstarlimos.com Teens Win TV & Video Production Television Show & High Definition Video Production Mr. Robert L. Dickens, Owner/Executive Director 1240 Longcrest Memphis, TN 38109 (901) 314-9297 Email: [email protected] www.teenswin.yolasite.com The Brass Door, LLC Restaurant Mr. Seamus Loftus, Owner/General Manager 152 Madison Avenue Memphis, TN 38103 (901) 489-7625 Fax: (901) 522-4454 www.thebrassdoor.com The Elegant Farmer Restaurant Mr. Mac Edwards, Owner 262 South Highland Street Memphis, TN 38111 (901) 324-2221 www.theelegantfarmerrestaurant.com The Growth Coach Business Coaching Ms. Shayna Rattler, President 2840 Summer Oaks, Suite 103 Bartlett, TN 38134 (901) 328-8842 Fax: (901) 405-1702 www.businesscoachmemphis.com The Left Field Company Ms. Niani Omotesa, 1910 Madison Ave #775 Memphis, TN 38104 (901) 213-6872 Fax: (901) 722-4820 Email: [email protected] www.theleftfieldcompany.com Tomsin Steel Processing, Inc. Steel Service Center Mr. Michael Thompson, President P.O. Box 13172 Memphis, TN 38113 (901) 947-6521 Email: [email protected] tomsinsteelmemphis.com Turkoyz JEWELRY & GIFT GALLERY Mt. Alan Weeks, Owner 4548 Poplar Avenue Memphis, TN 38117 (901) 818-2741 www.laurelwoodmemphis.com U United Methodist Neighborhood Centers of Memphis, Inc. SOCIAL SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS CHILD CARE LEARNING CENTER Reverend Brent Porterfield, Executive Director 3000 Walnut Grove Road Memphis, TN 38111 (901) 323-4993 Fax: (901) 323-5264 www.umnc.org UNITED STATES HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES The Honorable Stephen Fincher, Representative 1118 Longworth House Office Building Washington, DC 20515 (202) 225-4714 Fax: (202) 225-1765 V Vikus Corporation Mr. Bill Mullins, 2255 Center Street, Suite 107 Chattanooga, TN 37421 (423) 954-3378 VPSI Inc. COMMUTER VAN POOL SERVICES Mr. Michael Devry, Project Manager/ Memphis 5865 Ridgeway Center Parkway Memphis, TN 38120 (901) 820-4595 Fax: (901) 820-4596 Email: [email protected] Website: www.vanride.com W Wells Fargo BANKS Mr. Thomas Patronis, Market President 6445 Poplar Avenue, Suite 203 Memphis, TN 38119 (901) 214-2331 Fax: (901) 214-2339 www.wellsfargo.com Compassionate Care...Exceptional Services For 180 years, Regional Medical Center at Memphis has provided a wide variety of health services to the Mid-South. From highly specialized care in the event of an emergency to quality services related to elective procedures and primary care, we are here to meet all your healthcare needs. Regional Medical Center at Memphis is anchored by nationally recognized Centers of Excellence in trauma, burn, high-risk obstetrics and neonatal intensive care. Our specialty centers also include a full service rehabilitation hospital and wound center. The system provides an array of primary and specialty care services through the Health Loop primary care network and a variety of outpatient services including subspecialty clinics and imaging services. Each and every day, healthcare professionals are here to serve you within our walls and beyond to improve the health and well-being of our community. www.the-med.org What does it mean to print smarter? It ’s not just about improving production,or tightening turnaround times,or cutting costs. It ’s about finding smarter ways to get the job done.You ’ve got to outthink the competition. Toof Commercial Printing 670 South Cooper Street Memphis, Tennessee 38104 901.274.3632 800.722.4772 www.toofprinting.com When time counts . . . Whether you’re mailing across town or across the country, count on Memphis Data & Direct Mail to deliver your mail quickly and economically. Turn-key direct mail production and comprehensive data management services under one roof with facilities in Memphis and Baton Rouge. We have the largest capacity of any mailer in the region. ...G O! Memphis Direct utilizes the Memphis Bulk Mail Center to handle all mail originating in the Mid-South and offers economic and efficient drop shipments for national mailings. Call us today at (901) 772-5303 or visit us online at www.memphisdirectmail.com. A Franklin-Toof Company 22 N. Front Street, Suite 200 Memphis, TN 38103 help “drive” Memphis’ economic development! METHODIST HOSPITAL NAMED NUMBER ONE BY ItÕ s national recognition for unsurpassed excellence that so many in Memphis recognized long ago. Acknowledged as being the best in twelve specialties, MethodistÕ s Memphis Hospitals received top ranking in U.S. News & World Report Ñ number one out of 25 hospitals in the Memphis metropolitan area. This honor is the gold standard in rankings for healthcare and a testament to our talented physicians, nurses, partners and associates who truly believe that being the best starts with putting the patient first. Go online to see the full story: MethodistHealth.org/Best