Knoxville biz ticker: PFJ keeps spending, growing

Knoxville
The Sunsphere, with Mount LeConte in the distance, is pictured Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2014.

Latest news releases on business happenings in Greater Knoxville Business Journal area. Check back all week for updates.

PFJ keeps spending, growing

Knoxville-based Pilot Flying J has put more than $86 million into its stores since the start of 2018, creating 642 new jobs, the company announced Friday.

Six new stores have opened, as have six emergency Truck Care Service Centers, according to a news release. Four more service centers are planned by mid-year.

“Pilot Flying J is always looking for opportunities to improve the guest experience by expanding our network, improving our current facilities and exploring new technologies,” Pilot Flying J President Ken Parent said in a news release. “By investing in both new and existing stores, we aim to add convenience, quality and added value for our guests, including motorists and professional drivers. The win-win is that we’re also able to make an economic impact in communities throughout the United States and Canada through jobs and tax revenue.”

The company is investing $485 million in its system over the next five years, with much of that going for upgrades and expansions to existing stores. Pilot Flying J has more than 750 locations across North America, serving more than 1.6 million customers a day, according to the company.

New storage units coming to Farragut

The former U.S. Golf & Tennis Center in Farragut will be redeveloped as a Class A self-storage facility, new owner Ziff Properties Inc. announced.

The 6-acre plot near Turkey Creek and Interstate 40 will have 65,000 square feet of storage units, some climate controlled and some not, according to a news release. It will be managed by ExtraSpace Storage.

“With the nearby residential growth, we believe this storage facility will be well received and look forward to fulfilling the storage needs of the Farragut community,” Christian Chamblee, Ziff chief operating officer and director of acquisitions, said in the announcement.

Ziff Properties is based in Mount Pleasant, S.C. Founded in 1992, the company has 3 million square feet of retail, office and storage space, with more than 500 commercial tenants, according to the news release.

First Tennessee earnings up in early 2018

First Horizon National Corp., the parent of First Tennessee Bank, reported “strong first quarter 2018 results” on Friday with earnings per share up 17 percent from the same quarter last year.

“Revenues increased 8 percent over first quarter of 2017, thanks the incredible client service our bankers continue to deliver,” Dave Miller, East Tennessee Region president for First Tennessee Bank, said in an announcement. “The economy in the Knoxville area seems to be firing on all cylinders, with many commercial clients reporting a strong start to 2018 in their businesses.”

Last year First Tennessee merged with Capital Bank, for a combined $40 billion in assets and more than 300 branches in the Southeast.

“The merger is on track with cost savings and revenue synergies, and the systems conversion is scheduled for later this quarter,” the news release said.

World's Fair building renovates, reopens

The former Knoxville Convention and Exhibition Center, built for the 1982 World’s Fair, has reopened as the World’s Fair Exhibition Hall as it undergoes renovation, according to a news release.

It will get its first use April 21 through 23 for the 10th Annual Spring Fling basketball tournament, organized by the Visit Knoxville Sports Commission.

The city-owned building is getting $2.1 million in improvements, including a new roof, new ventilation, and remodeled restrooms.

During the fair, it housed the Technology and Lifestyle Center. The building is next to Holiday Inn and faces the World’s Fair Park Festival Lawn.

The 66,396-square-foot building will provide overflow space for the Knoxville Convention Center, according to a news release. It will be managed by SMG Knoxville, which also manages the city’s convention center, civic auditorium, and Chilhowee Park & Exposition Center.

FOOD CITY NAMES GRAND MARSHAL AND HONORARY STARTER

ABINGDON, VA (Wednesday, April 11, 2018) – This year Food City is proud to be celebrating their 100th Anniversary.  The retail supermarket chain serves as the title sponsor for Sunday’s Food City 500.  Food City is Bristol Motor Speedway’s longest running sponsor and the second longest in NASCAR.

Food City announced earlier today that they will be honoring two companies who are also celebrating  100th Anniversaries by inviting them to participate in the start of Sunday’s race. 

“In today’s competitive market place, it’s very rare to see a company celebrating their 100th Anniversary.   Food City is extremely proud to have served our friends and neighbors for the past 100 years.  We realize this would not be possible without the loyalty and support of our customers, associates and our many great business partners.  We wanted to honor Chevrolet and Meade Tractor, who are also celebrating 100th Anniversaries by inviting them to join us for the start of the Food City 500 on Sunday,” says Steve Smith, president and chief executive officer for Food City.

Tim Morgan, Chevrolet Dealer in Coeburn, VA will serve as the Food City 500 Grand Marshal in Bristol on Sunday, April 15, 2018.

Representing Chevrolet, Tim Morgan, Chevrolet Dealer in Coeburn, VA will serve as the event Grand Marshal and deliver the most famous words in motorsports to give the command for drivers to start their engines.  Morgan is certainly no stranger to Bristol Motor Speedway.  He and the McClure brothers started Morgan McClure Motorsports back in 1983.  Morgan-McClure Motorsports won 14 races in the highest level of NASCAR, including Bristol Motor Speedway once and the Daytona 500 three times. 

“I’m honored to be chosen to serve as the Food City 500 Grand Marshal. I’m pleased to be joining the thousands of race fans celebrating Food City’s 100th Anniversary and 100 years of Chevy trucks.  I was raised in a blue-collar family and have always thought of Chevrolet as the most successful manufacturer in providing affordable and dependable transportation for the working man.  Food City mirrors that same success by striving to offer their customers the best quality and value,” says Morgan.

Chuck Meade of Johnson City will serve as the Food City 500 Honorary Starter on Sunday, April 15, 2018.

On behalf of Meade Tractor, Chuck Meade of Johnson City, TN will serve as Honorary Starter and wave the green flag to signal the start of Sunday’s Food City 500.  Meade serves as president of Meade Tractor.  Based in Kingsport, TN, Meade Tractor is a John Deere dealer with 30 locations spanning Tennessee, Virginia, Kentucky and North Carolina.  This year, John Deere is proudly celebrating 100 years of the tractor.

“We are honored to celebrate Food City’s 100th Anniversary, along with the 100th Anniversary of the John Deere tractor.  Like Meade Tractor, Food City is a locally owned and operated company, dedicated to serving their customers and their community and we’re proud to partner with them for the upcoming Food City 500,” says Meade.

The Food City 500 gets under way at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, April 15, 2018.  Qualifying for the event takes place on Friday at 4:45 p.m.  Tickets are still available and may be purchased at www.bristoltix.com or by calling the BMS ticket office at 423-BRISTOL (274-7865).

Headquartered in Abingdon, Virginia, K-VA-T Food Stores (Food City’s parent company) operates 132 retail outlets throughout southeast Kentucky, southwest Virginia, east Tennessee, Chattanooga and north Georgia.

Knoxville apartments refinanced

CBRE Group Inc. has refinanced the 198-unit Villas of Emerald Woods townhouse apartments in Knoxville, the company announced Tuesday.

The $18 million loan went to the complex’s owner, The Williams Company LLC of Knoxville. Some of the money is expected to be used for updating the apartments at 9400 Havenbrooke Way.

“CBRE is pleased to have been able to assist the borrower in capturing the benefit of a 35-year, low interest rate loan,” Ann Cone, senior vice president in CBRE Capital Markets’ Atlanta office, said in the announcement. “This execution enabled the borrower to pay off an existing higher interest loan and reap the benefits with a fixed long-term rate.”

The Villas of Emerald Woods was built in three phases, from 2006 to 2009, according to the news release. The Williams Company also owns Fox Lake Apartment Homes at 505 Fox Crossing Blvd.

CBRE Group is a commercial real estate services and investment firm based in California.

State yanks one Knoxville insurance license

State authorities revoked the license of a Knoxville insurance agent and two others this week, according to a Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance news release.

Dallas Edwin Love lost his license to sell insurance in Tennessee for failing to tell the state’s Insurance Division about his May 2015 conviction for felony aggravated assault, the news release said. In addition to his license revocation, Love faces a $4,000 civil penalty.

Similar actions were taken against insurance agents based in Oviedo, Florida, and Dowelltown, Tennessee. Those agents were accused of forging signatures on insurance documents.

“I congratulate the fine work of our team who has helped stop three bad actors from preying upon unassuming Tennessee consumers any further,” TDCI Assistant Commissioner for Insurance Michael Humphreys said in the announcement. “The conclusion of these cases once again demonstrates the importance of upholding the law in order to protect consumers from wrongdoing. Our team will continue to work diligently to investigate and bring to justice those who would seek to line their pockets at the expense of consumers.”

WRJZ welcomes Former Presidential Candidate, Alan Keyes to Knoxville

Knoxville, TN, April 12, 2018:  Former presidential candidate, Alan Keyes will be attending a “meet and greet” sponsored by Joy620 WRJZ.  Ambassador Keyes will have a short message about his thoughts as to how we as Ambassadors of Christ, can help spark a nation-wide revival with East Tennessee being the epicenter of the movement.   The get together is by invitation only and will be held at The Crowne Plaza Hotel downtown Knoxville, Thursday, April 12, 6-8 PM.  

Ambassador Keyes will also be joining our local mornings shows that day to share with listeners his passion for this movement.  He will be on WRJZ’s The Bob Bell Show at 7:30am and then sister station WETR Talk Radio 92.3 / AM 760 at 8am for Real News with Grant Henry and Nick Crawford.

Joy620 WRJZ is Knoxville's most powerful Christian radio station, featuring inspirational, educational and informative talk programming 24 hours a day. Programming themes include: Faith…Marriage… Emotional Health… Money… Politics… and Relationships. Thanks to the station's 5000-watt signal, Joy 620 covers the Tennessee Valley within a 60-mile radius of Knoxville.  Joy 620 WRJZ is owned and operated by Tennessee Media Associates, Inc. and is managed by TM2 Inc.

PRIVATELY-OWNED HOME BUILDER IN AUSTIN JOINS CLAYTON PROPERTIES GROUP

Berkshire Hathaway’s Clayton Continues Expansion in Site-Built Industry with Addition of Brohn Homes

MARYVILLE, Tenn., (April 9, 2018) – Clayton Properties Group®, a division of Clayton Home Building Group®, a Berkshire Hathaway company and one of America’s largest homebuilders, today announced it has acquired Brohn Homes, one of Austin, Texas’ largest privately-owned homebuilders.

Brothers Adam Boenig, co-president, and Aaron Boenig, co-president, founded Brohn Homes in 2003 as a custom home building business. Recognized for its innovation in design and architecture, Brohn Homes differentiates itself by providing unprecedented designs, quality craftsmanship and unparalleled value to its customer base.

The company experienced tremendous organic growth since its inception, doubling in size from 2003 – 2007. Following the housing downturn in 2008, Adam and Aaron transitioned the company from a custom home builder to a production builder. In 2017 Brohn Homes started 254 homes, sold 270 and closed 253 homes in 12 communities. In 2018, Brohn Homes anticipates selling approximately 400 homes in 13 communities.

“After over a decade of building homes as a privately held company, we are thrilled to join Clayton and become a part of their impressive homebuilding company,” said Adam Boenig. “We look forward to continuing our momentum of growth and innovation through this strategic partnership.”

Clayton’s emphasis on team member experience and culture was one of the many reasons the partnership made sense to the Boenig brothers.

“Adam and I were looking for a partner whose business philosophy focused on its people and culture first,” said Aaron Boenig. “When we met Clayton’s leadership team, we instantly realized that our philosophies and company structures align seamlessly. We knew that this partnership was something our team members could get excited about.”

Brohn Homes is at the forefront of innovation in the Austin market with its creative, distinct designs and array of product offering. In 2017, Brohn Homes entered the affordable housing market with its Waterloo Homes® line, an affordable home that makes the dream of home ownership attainable for almost any buyer.

“Brohn Homes immediately impressed us with their creativity and variety of homes,” said Keith Holdbrooks, president of Clayton Home Building Group. “Their willingness to try new ventures, such as the innovative affordable line – Waterloo Homes –, and focus on growth are areas of importance for our industry. The culture at Brohn Homes is a true testament to their emphasis on team member engagement and experience. We are a people company at Clayton, and Brohn Homes’ culture aligns with our steadfast commitment to team member experience.”

Clayton entered the site-built industry in 2015 through its Clayton Properties division to provide industry-leading homebuilding solutions and improve the experience of modern-day homebuyers. Since 2015, Clayton has increased its homebuilder portfolio by acquiring like-minded, innovative companies in strong growth markets, such as Oakwood Homes in Colorado and Utah, Harris Doyle Homes in Alabama, Summit Homes in Missouri, Goodall Homes in Tennessee and Chafin Communities in Atlanta.

Brohn Homes was represented by Builder Advisor Group in the transaction. For more information, visit www.brohnhomes.com or www.claytonpropertiesgroup.com. 

About Brohn Homes

Brohn Homes is one of Central Texas’ largest privately-owned homebuilders. Since 2003, Brohn Homes has been building in the most sought-after areas with a steadfast commitment to provide superior designs, quality craftsmanship, and unparalleled value. In 2017, Brohn Homes introduced the Waterloo Homes brand, making home ownership attainable for almost any buyer. Waterloo Homes are affordable yet maintain the quality, style, and craftsmanship that Austin residents have come to expect. Whether it’s your first home or an exquisite luxury home on acreage, Brohn Homes has something to meet any future home buyer’s needs. To learn more about Brohn Homes or Waterloo Homes, please visit brohnhomes.com.

About Clayton
Founded in 1956, Clayton is committed to opening doors to a better life and building happiness through homeownership. As a diverse builder committed to quality and durability, Clayton offers traditional site-built homes, modular homes, manufactured housing, tiny homes, college dormitories, military barracks and apartments. In 2017, Clayton built more than 48,000 homes. Clayton is a Berkshire Hathaway company. For more information, visit claytonhomes.com.

New Hilton brand coming to Pigeon Forge at Black Fox Lodge

Black Fox Lodge in Pigeon Forge, which opened in December 2016, will become a Tapestry Collection by Hilton hotel this summer.

The 178-room hotel will remain open during minor renovations for the rebranding, according to a news release. When it formally becomes a Tapestry property in August, it will be the tenth member of the Tapestry Collection, which launched in 2017.

“Black Fox Lodge has everything we look for in a Tapestry Collection hotel – its amenities and ideal location make it a perfect match for this new and exciting brand,” said Matt Wehling, Hilton senior vice president for U.S. & Canada Development, said in the announcement.

Owned by Chartwell Hospitality, Black Fox Lodge opened at 3171 Parkway on half the former Grand Resort Hotel & Convention Center site beside the Little Pigeon River.

“We are honored to have been selected for this respected hotel collection,” Will Schaedle, Chartwell’s director of acquisitions and development, said in the announcement. “The Hilton brand brings even more prestige to our property and allows us to offer guests upgraded amenities in the same picturesque atmosphere.”

The Grand Resort was the largest hotel in Pigeon Forge, but gained a bad reputation as the “dirtiest hotel in America” during its last few years of operation. It closed in late 2012 and was torn down in 2014.

Franklin-based Chartwell Hospitality, which no connection to the Grand Resort’s owners, bought the site to build Black Fox Lodge. The company manages 36 other hotels, mostly Hilton and Marriott brands, in 12 states; but Black Fox Lodge was Chartwell’s first independently owned and managed property.

Online IT masters coming to South College

South College, formerly Knoxville Business College, is going to offer an online master’s degree in Information Technology.

Enrollment in the Master of Science program starts June 29, according to a news release. Full-time students can complete it in 12 months.

“The field of information technology is one of the fastest-growing in the country,” South College Chancellor Steve South said in the announcement. “By offering a Master of Science degree program online, we are helping to meet a demand for well-educated specialists in this field and providing graduates with a dynamic career track.”

The training can lead to jobs as an IT systems administrator, information security analyst, computer network architect, IT project manager, chief technology officer or IT systems engineer, according to the news release.

South College has campuses in Knoxville and Nashville, and in Asheville, N.C. The private, for-profit school already offers an online associate’s degree in network administration and security, and a masters of business administration with a concentration in information systems management.

State deems new industrial sites ready

Two more locations won state approval as Select Tennessee Certified Sites, ready for industrial development, the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development announced Thursday.

One is Lot 3 of the East Tennessee Progress Center in Hamblen County, about 40 miles northeast of Knoxville, sponsored by the Morristown Area Chamber of Commerce. The other is a parcel in the Washington County Industrial Park, about 90 miles northeast of Knoxville, sponsored by the Northeast Tennessee Regional Economic Partnership.

Certification requires at least 20 acres with industrial zoning, road access for trucks, and existing utilities or a plan to install utilities, according to a news release.

“Companies consider many factors when choosing to locate new operations or expand existing operations in Tennessee, and one of the main contributing factors to that final decision is whether a community has a shovel-ready project site,” TNECD Commissioner Bob Rolfe said in the announcement.

There are 54 certified sites statewide. Since the program launched in 2012, a dozen companies have spent more than $1.3 billion on those locations, promising nearly 5,600 jobs, according to the news release.

Find your recruitment match at Knox News Career Fair

Knox News will host a Career Fair on Tuesday, April 17th from 9:30 a.m.-2:00 p.m. at the Embassy Suites Knoxville West in Knoxville, TN. Hosted by the Job Network, the Career Fair makes it easier for you to connect face-to-face with qualified candidates in business, finance, healthcare, retail, technology and other dynamic careers

Whether you’re hiring for a temporary role or a more permanent position, the Knox News Career Fair on April 17th is here to help you find the right candidate. This one-day event will allow your company to showcase your organization and recruit candidates face-to-face.

·         Over half of attendees have 15+ years of career experience.

·         66% of attendees are ages 26 to 55 years old.

·         58% have a college degree.

·         92% of attendees recommend the Knox News Career Fair.

·         46% of attendees are looking for “Experienced Career Placement”

Hurry up and secure your spot at the Knox News Career Fair! Limited spots available. For more information about exhibitor and sponsorship opportunities, please call 865-342-6514 or visit KNOXNEWS.COM/JOBS/CAREERFAIR. 

Embassy Suites Knoxville West, the new location of the 2018 Spring Knox News Career Fair, is located at 9621 Parkside Dr. in Knoxville.

 

Calloway Oil Co. Secures $16K in Grants for Local Schools from Exxon Mobil

Maryville, Tenn. -- Calloway Oil Company, an Exxon and Mobil distributor based in Maryville, Tenn., distributed $16,000 in Exxon education grants to local schools for math or technology projects. Examples of items secured with the grant funds include workstations in math and computer labs, tablets for student learning, and additional equipment for chemistry labs.

The following East Tenn. school systems received grant funding:

  • ·         Alcoa City Schools - $500
  • ·         Blount County Schools - $4,500
  • ·         Bradley County Schools - $500
  • ·         Cleveland City Schools - $1,000
  • ·         Cocke County Schools - $500
  • ·         Knox County Schools - $2,000
  • ·         Lenoir City Schools - $1,000
  • ·         Maryville City Schools - $2,000
  • ·         Monroe County Schools - $1,000
  • ·         Polk County Schools - $1,500
  • ·         Sevier County Schools - $3,000
  • ·         Webb School of Knoxville - $500

Checks were presented to the schools over the month of December after an application process began in the fall of 2017. Calloway Oil Company qualified for the grants for their local schools by passing all mystery shop inspections on customer service, store cleanliness and other brand requirements.

About Calloway Oil Company:

Founded in 1957 in Maryville, Tenn., Calloway Oil Company is a convenience store operation of E-Z Stop Food Marts and petroleum distributor of ExxonMobil products in the East Tennessee area. The company currently distributes fuel to 23 E-Z Stop Food Marts, 16 independent dealers, and a variety of farm, fleet and bulk users.
E-Z Stop Food Marts operate in seven counties in East Tennessee, and dealer operations expand into one additional county, bringing the company’s regional reach to eight counties. The combined operations of Calloway Oil Company and E-Z Stop Food Marts, Inc. employ nearly 300 people. Annual revenues exceed $200 million, with new stores opening annually to expand the business. Calloway Oil Company has been awarded the Exxon Excellence Award for 18 years, recognizing it in the top 60 Exxon distributors in the United States.

AMR BLOUNT CONTRACT EXTENDED

Two Year Extension Approved

 Maryville, TN:  American Medical Response (AMR) will continue to provide emergency ambulance services in Blount County through at least 2020.

A two-year contract extension was proposed by County Mayor Ed Mitchell and unanimously approved by the Blount County Commission.

 “We work hard to provide the best service possible,” said Chris Blach, AMR’s South Region Director. “We believe it is our people and the job they do every day that won us this extension.”

 "I appreciate AMR and their continued efforts to provide quality services to the citizens of our County,” said Blount County Mayor Ed Mitchell. The agreement reached with Rural Metro continues to raise the standard of emergency medical services for our County.  AMR has rose to the challenges and I hope the citizens see that lives are being saved because of our collaborative efforts."  

“This is great for the community and our AMR family” said Jonathan Rodgers, AMR’s

Operations Manager for East Tennessee. “This contract extension will allow us to continue to grow and build on this great long-standing relationship we have in Blount County and our community partners. AMR looks forward to serving Blount County for all of your Emergency and Non-Emergency Ambulance needs for many years to come.”

AMR has served Blount County since winning the bid in a competitive RFP process in 1985.  It serves Blount County with 16 ambulances plus support vehicles. Our 78 employees work out of stations in Maryville, Alcoa, Louisville and Greenback. The firm receives no subsidy from the taxpayers. AMR in engaged in multiple community efforts in Blount County, including the annual CPR Challenge, scheduled this year for May, when citizens are offered free CPR training.

About American Medical Response
American Medical Response, Inc., America’s leading provider of medical transportation, provides services in 40 states and the District of Columbia. More than 28,000 AMR paramedics, EMTs, RNs and other professionals work together to transport more than 4.8 million patients nationwide each year in critical, emergency and non-emergency situations. AMR is the Federal Emergency Medical Agency’s (FEMA) Federal Disaster Response provider. For more information about AMR, visit www.amr.net.

 In East Tennessee AMR provides ambulance service in Knox, Blount, McMinn and Polk counties as well as fire protection in Knox. The fire service still carries the Rural Metro name as well as AMR.

New apartments coming to Fort Loudoun Lake

Alabama-based Capstone Building Corp. plans to build a 240-unit luxury apartment complex on Fort Loudoun Lake, the company announced Monday.

The Village at Westland Cove will have nine residential buildings and six garage buildings, a clubhouse and pool, and a mail kiosk, according to the news release.

The company also announced slightly smaller developments in Charlotte, N.C., and Memphis.

“We are very excited to announce the start of construction on all three of these major developments,” Jay Chapman, Capstone president and CEO said in the announcement. “Each of these projects have very different layouts and plans but they will all be great establishments that we look forward to bringing to the residents in these three cities.”

Capstone, founded in 1997, has finished more than 86 projects in 22 states, with a total value of more than $1.3 billion.