business briefs
• Scotty Ecklind, an agent with Weichert, Realtors - Advantage Plus in Knoxville, recently was certified as an instructor with the Tennessee Real Estate Commission. The certification enables Ecklind to offer his “Wheel of Intention” course to local realtors.
“The Wheel of Intention” is a time management system designed to support Ecklind and others to realize their passions. His course will help attendees enhance their time management abilities, aid in stress reduction and prioritize tasks.
• Knoxville photographer Colby McLemore, owner of Colby’s Photos and Videos, recently received the Director’s Award at the Professional Photographers of America’s 154th Annual Convention. This accolade, established in 1958, acknowledges individuals for their enduring and positive contributions to the professional photography industry.
• Weichert, Realtors - Advantage Plus recently was named to the prestigious Premier Client Group by Weichert Real Estate Affiliates Inc., earning distinction as one of the top-performing companies in the national franchise system in 2023.
Weichert, Realtors - Advantage Plus is one of only 30 companies – out of more than 230 from the Weichert national franchise system – named to this elite group of real estate brokerages. PCG members are identified based on sales performance from 2023.
• The late James “Jim” Slyman, founder of Slyman Auction & Real Estate, posthumously received the 2023 Lifetime Achievement Award from East Tennessee REALTORS Association. The inaugural award was presented during the organization’s annual Installation and Awards meeting held Feb. 1 in Tennessee Theater.
Slyman founded Slyman Real Estate & Auction in 1971 and remained active in his business, church and community throughout his lifetime. He passed away in May 2023. “Slyman’s leadership within the industry shaped Knoxville’s Real Estate landscape and left an enduring legacy,” company press release stated.
• Michael Graves Architecture recently acquired Studio Fou Design, a Knoxville-based architecture design firm. The merger enhances the firm’s presence across sectors.
• Twenty-four executives from campuses and institutes across the University of Tennessee system recently were chosen to make up the 2024 class of the Executive Leadership Institute, which is operated by the UT Institute for Public Service’s Naifeh Center for Effective Leadership, It develops executive leaders for UT system needs.
• Abhijit “AV” Verekar, founder/CEO at Avèro Advisors, has been selected to be a member of a chief executive peer advisory board in Knoxville by Vistage Worldwide Inc. He joins almost 400 senior executives, business owners and CEOs across Tennessee who are Vistage members. Under Verekar’s leadership, Avèro Advisors has grown from a one-man operation in 2016 to currently a team of 40 employees. Its approach emphasizes direct collaboration with top administrators to ensure the wise use of limited taxpayer dollars.
