business briefs
• Due to construction delays, Roll Em Up Taquitos scheduled to open at the end of November at 117 Lovell Road, next to Costco, was delayed. It has been rescheduled to open sometime in the first two weeks of January. Co-owner Nirav Patel said no precise time has been set yet.
• YMCA of East Tennessee Board of Directors has announced Matt Ryerson recently was named the new CEO of the organization. He will begin that role Jan. 1, 2025.
For the past five years, Ryerson has been CEO of the United Way of Greater Knoxville. He has 20 years of experience in non-profit leadership, including some with YMCA early in his career. He succeeds Jim Dickson, who has been local YMCA CEO for the past 24 years.
• FirstBank has announced two recent significant organizational updates for its East Region: Steve Pettit has been promoted to senior credit officer and Sam Albritton joins the bank as the new Knoxville market president.
Based out of the Bearden office, Albritton will lead a team of local relationship managers and further FirstBank’s position as a financial and community leader in Knoxville.
• Visit Knoxville has announced the Visit Knoxville Film Office is celebrating 10 years established under Visit Knoxville. A new logo and new promotional video also were released.
Visit Knoxville Film Office was established to strengthen Knoxville’s economy through the promotion of the City of Knoxville and Knox County as a premiere filming location. By attracting motion media companies to Knoxville through the marketing of its locations, accommodations, services, crew and talent, the Film Office fosters the creation of jobs in the area, stimulates business opportunities and generates exposure.
• University of Tennessee Beef and Forage Center recently presented its inaugural Service Award to Neal Schrick.
Schrick, professor and head of the Department of Animal Science at the UT Institute of Agriculture, has been a driving force in the state’s beef and forage industry for more than 30 years. His leadership and expertise in reproductive physiology have shaped not only his department but also agricultural practices across Tennessee.
A pioneer in his field, Schrick, was part of the groundbreaking team that cloned the nation’s first Jersey calf, highlighting his significant contributions to animal science.
• Tennessee Center for Performance Excellence has announced Metro Tennova will receive the 2024 TNCPE Excellence Award.
This is the highest honor TNCPE gives. It recognizes organizations demonstrating outstanding excellence through their practices and results, according to a TNCPE press release.
“Being awarded the TNCPE Level 4 Excellence Award is a testament to the incredible dedication, teamwork and commitment to excellence demonstrated by everyone at both locations,” said Tony Benton, CEO of Tennova Healthcare East Market. “This recognition is not just about the processes we’ve put in place but about the passion and care we bring to our work daily.
“We are incredibly proud of this achievement, and it fuels our ongoing commitment to improving the quality of care for our patients, empowering our staff and strengthening our community,” he added. “This is just the beginning — together, we will continue to set new standards for excellence in healthcare.”
Organizations receiving this distinction have demonstrated exemplary leadership, innovation and operational effectiveness. The award acknowledges those who inspire others and set the standard for performance excellence.
• Commemorating its sixth year, Bank of America’s Neighborhood Champions program provides multiyear flexible grant funding annually to high-impact non-profits in nearly 40 communities nationwide.
In Knoxville, Bank of America has named Big Brothers Big Sisters of East Tennessee as its local 2024 Neighborhood Champion for its work as a leading mentoring organization, dedicated to helping young people achieve their full potential.
As a Neighborhood Champion, Big Brothers Big Sisters of East Tennessee is awarded a $50,000 grant over two years, leadership training resources for the organization’s executive director, access to technical coaching and a national network of nonprofit peers.
“This year we celebrate six years of supporting Knoxville non-profits that have provided solutions to some of our community’s biggest challenges,” said Terry Cline, president, Bank of America Knoxville. “Countless individuals, families and neighborhoods have felt the profound impact ... and we look forward to continuing economic advancement in Knoxville in years to come.”
