business briefs
• Urgent Team Walk-In Urgent Care recently welcomed nurse practitioners Maggie Metz and Kaitlyn Sims to its healthcare team in Knoxville. Metz earned her Master of Science degree in nursing from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. She has served the Knoxville community for more than 10 years in critical care and family practice. Sims obtained a Master of Science degree in nursing from Middle Tennessee State University. Her most recent experience includes treating patients of all ages in a walk-in urgent care setting.
• Jason Periard recently was named Knox County Schools’ new chief of security, replacing Gus Paidousis, who will be retiring effective July 31. Periard will start his new position Aug. 1. He currently is vice president of Community Security Initiative at the Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles, which represents the security of more than 500 institutions, including more than 100 schools. He previously served 21 years on active duty in the U.S. Marine Corps, where he served in numerous security and law enforcement leadership positions, which included special agent for Naval Criminal Investigative Service and investigations officer for the USMC Criminal Investigation Division.
• Jared Douglas recently was hired as an engineer at Tranzonic Companies’s facility in Hardin Valley.
He is responsible for building, calibrating, maintaining, troubleshooting, testing and repairing various equipment, systems, hardware and software throughout the facility.
• Sean Claire of Knoxville Symphony Orchestra recently was awarded the 2021 Ford Musician Award from League of American Orchestras for excellence in community service for the KSO Music & Wellness program.
• Makaela Webb has joined Knoxville Democrats as a district-level field organizer. She previously was an assistant field organizer,
• Knox County Health Department team members Kevin Clark and Erin Read recently were promoted to lead divisions at KCHD. Clark, formerly food program manager, was promoted to director of environmental health; and Read, a health planner, was promoted to division director for substance misuse response.
• University of Tennessee, Knoxville, will make submitting ACT or SAT scores optional during the fall 2025 admissions cycle to make the application process for undergraduate admission more equitable.
