I’m going to get all literary on you today and make the statement that business meetings remind me of the classic opening sentence of Dickens’ “A Tale of Two Cities.” “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of light, it was the season of darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair.”

2. Consider Retirement Funds Before Job Change - Thursday, May 23, 2013

Ray’s Take Job hopping, especially in the early years, is more common than ever. Careers are more evolutionary now, as the days of lifetime jobs seem long gone. However, a lot of retirement savings can wind up lost if care is not taken when changing jobs.

3. Former IRS Chief: Can't Say How Targeting Happened - Wednesday, May 22, 2013

WASHINGTON (AP) – The man who led the Internal Revenue Service when it was giving extra scrutiny to tea party and other conservative groups seeking tax-exempt status told Congress on Tuesday that he knew little about what was happening while he was still commissioner.

4. Retiring Boomers Driving Sales of Small Businesses - Thursday, May 16, 2013

NEW YORK (AP) – Baby boomers preparing for retirement are driving a surge in small business sales, as they find more and more buyers confident enough in the improving economy to expand their own businesses through acquisitions.

5. Justice Department to Investigate IRS Targeting of Tea Party - Wednesday, May 15, 2013

WASHINGTON (AP) – The Justice Department is opening a criminal investigation into the Internal Revenue Service's targeting of tea party groups for extra scrutiny over whether they qualified for tax exempt status, Attorney General Eric Holder announced Tuesday.

6. Employ Both Push and Pull Marketing - Wednesday, May 15, 2013

The future of push vs. pull marketing is a hot debate. With social media continually on the rise, there’s a trend to disregard push marketing in its entirety. That’s a mistake. Not only is there a place for both, limiting yourself to one over the other will inhibit your ability for profitable growth.

7. IRS Apologizes for Targeting Tea Party Groups - Monday, May 13, 2013

WASHINGTON (AP) – The Internal Revenue Service apologized Friday for what it acknowledged was "inappropriate" targeting of conservative political groups during the 2012 election to see if they were violating their tax-exempt status.

8. BancorpSouth Offering Early Retirement - Thursday, May 09, 2013

TUPELO, Miss. (AP) – BancorpSouth Inc., the parent of BancorpSouth Bank, is offering a voluntary early retirement package to employees age 60 and over with 10 consecutive years of experience with the company.

9. Group Files Petition Over Tennessee Nuclear Plant License - Wednesday, May 08, 2013

NASHVILLE (AP) – An environmental group has filed a petition to intervene in the Tennessee Valley Authority's request to renew the licenses for the Sequoyah Nuclear Plant in Soddy-Daisy.

10. Tennessee Named Top Choice for Retirement - Wednesday, May 08, 2013

Retirees considering where to spend their golden years might want to consider Tennessee.

That’s according to Bankrate.com, the personal finance website, which this week ranked Tennessee at the top of its list of the 10 best states for retirement. The site’s analysts crunched numbers in several categories, including cost of living, taxes, health care, crime and climate.

11. Harahan Bridge Project Plans Nearing Completion - Wednesday, May 01, 2013

Design work on the “Main to Main Connector” project is at the halfway point. And the city team overseeing the project is due to complete plans by the end of May to trigger a $15 million appropriation of federal funding in June.

12. Dixon Opens Petit Palais Jewelry Exhibition - Tuesday, April 30, 2013

A rare display of French jewelry and designs at the Dixon Gallery and Gardens traces the history of jewelry design from the late 17th century to after World War II.

The exhibition, “Bijoux parisiens: French jewelry from the Petit Palais,” marks the second collaboration in three years between the Petit Palais in Paris and the Dixon Gallery and Gardens.

13. Ubiquiti Networks Hires Its First Marketing Chief - Saturday, April 27, 2013

The next-generation communications technology company led by Memphis Grizzlies owner Robert Pera has hired its first chief marketing officer.

14. Jewelry From Petit Palais Displayed at Dixon - Monday, April 29, 2013

Iconic jewels from the famous French houses of Falize, Boucheron, Lalique and Cartier will be on view at the Dixon Gallery and Gardens through July 31.

The exhibit, “Bijoux parisiens: French Jewelry from the Petit Palais,” tells the story of French jewelry design from the 17th to the 20th centuries and draws from the extensive collection from the Petit Palais in Paris.

15. Ubiquiti Networks Hires its First Marketing Chief - Tuesday, April 23, 2013

The next-generation communications technology company led by Memphis Grizzlies owner Robert Pera has hired its first chief marketing officer.

16. Back to Budgeting - Wednesday, April 17, 2013

As the S&P 500 continued to set new highs last week, Washington returned to the forefront as President Barack Obama released his fiscal year 2014 budget. For the first time in four years, the executive branch and both branches of Congress have produced a budget.

17. Sometimes You Need to Shift Things Around - Wednesday, April 17, 2013

When leading a series of innovation workshops for Memphis Mayor A C Wharton Jr.’s Innovation Delivery Team with division leaders at City Hall, our task was steep: change long-standing behavior patterns. Turn doers into innovators. Have proven professionals who are deeply embedded in their roles get out of their current paradigm and empathize with the community and citizens they serve. Break the cognitive lock created by doing the same thing every day and see the city with fresh eyes.

18. Tennessee Finance Chief to Retire From Haslam Cabinet - Tuesday, April 16, 2013

NASHVILLE (AP) – State finance chief Mark Emkes is retiring after presiding over three annual spending plans, Republican Gov. Bill Haslam's administration announced Monday.

Emkes, a former CEO of Nashville-based tiremaker Bridgestone Americas, was one of Haslam's highest-profile Cabinet choices following the 2010 election.

19. U of M President Raines Announces Retirement - Tuesday, April 16, 2013

Shirley C. Raines is retiring at the end of June after 12 years as president of the University of Memphis.

Raines announced her retirement Monday, April 15. John Morgan, the chancellor of the Tennessee Board of Regents, will name an interim president for the university possibly as early as this week for the transition.

20. Campfield Defiant, Unapologetic in Deposition - Wednesday, April 10, 2013

NASHVILLE (AP) – State Sen. Stacey Campfield has given a deposition in which he is unapologetic for posting false information about a Democratic candidate on his blog, dismissive of the possibility of paying damages for that and belittling of the technological skills of fellow lawmakers.

21. AutoZone Announces Marketing Vice President - Saturday, April 06, 2013

Albert Saltiel has joined AutoZone Inc. as senior vice president of marketing and customer satisfaction.

Saltiel comes to the Memphis-based auto parts giant from Navistar International Corp., where he was chief marketing officer.

22. AutoZone Names VP of Marketing - Wednesday, April 03, 2013

Albert Saltiel has joined AutoZone Inc. as senior vice president of marketing and customer satisfaction.

Saltiel comes to AutoZone from Navistar International Corp., where he was chief marketing officer. He also has worked with Sony Electronics as general manager for marketing and with Ford Motor Co., where he held multiple marketing roles.

23. Real-Time Marketing - Wednesday, April 03, 2013

We live in a digital world where we’ve grown accustomed to real-time communication with one another, including with the brands we patronize. Now there is a growing expectation of real-time response from companies large and small. It’s time to become more nimble and proactive – communicating at the same pace as your customers.

24. Marketing Power of Predictability - Monday, April 01, 2013

When I was a very young man many, many years ago, I remember being fascinated by the information on the bottom of the McDonald’s hamburgers signage. Of course, I didn’t know about the word signage back then. I just knew McDonald’s had really cool signs with golden arches and big red and white words. The words at the bottom of the sign intrigued me most.

25. Open Meetings Law Bill Withdrawn in State House - Saturday, March 30, 2013

A Republican lawmaker who last year backed off a bill that would have allowed local officials to hold more closed-door meetings has withdrawn a similar measure this session.

Rep. Glen Casada of Franklin withdrew the legislation in the House State Government Subcommittee on Tuesday.

26. Bioworks Foundation to Launch TriMetis - Friday, March 29, 2013

In May, The Memphis Bioworks Foundation will launch TriMetis, a for-profit research company that will be the first of its kind in the region.

Phil Cestaro, TriMetis president, says the company will operate the Memphis Specialized Laboratory, a facility designed to help medical device, pharmaceutical, industrial, biotech and academic institutions conduct research that will meet the quality levels and oversight required by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

27. Open Meetings Law Bill Withdrawn in State House - Wednesday, March 27, 2013

A Republican lawmaker who last year backed off a bill that would have allowed local officials to hold more closed-door meetings has withdrawn a similar measure this session.

Rep. Glen Casada of Franklin withdrew the legislation in the House State Government Subcommittee on Tuesday.

28. Bill Could Change Open Meetings Law - Monday, March 25, 2013

A Republican lawmaker who last year backed off a bill that would have allowed local officials to hold more closed-door meetings has renewed the effort, saying he’s asked county commissioners to bring him a proposal that has a chance of passing a key subcommittee.

29. Competing School Voucher Bill Withdrawn - Friday, March 22, 2013

NASHVILLE (AP) – The sponsor of legislation that was competing with Gov. Bill Haslam's to create a school voucher program withdrew her bill on Wednesday after proponents of a broader program decided they want to focus on the governor's plan.

30. Competing Voucher Bills Gearing Up in Legislature - Saturday, March 16, 2013

The Republican sponsor of a measure competing with Gov. Bill Haslam’s to create a school voucher program in Tennessee says she’s convinced the initiative should be broader than what the governor is proposing.

31. Competing Voucher Bills Gearing up in Legislature - Friday, March 15, 2013

The Republican sponsor of a measure competing with Gov. Bill Haslam’s to create a school voucher program in Tennessee says she’s convinced the initiative should be broader than what the governor is proposing.

32. Renewed Bid Would Dilute Tennessee Open Meetings Law - Monday, March 11, 2013

NASHVILLE (AP) – A renewed push is under way to get Tennessee lawmakers to allow local official to hold more closed-door meetings.

Williamson County Commissioner Bob Barnwell, who also spearheaded a similar attempt last year, has written to local government colleagues around the state urging them to encourage state lawmakers to pass a bill to allow private meetings among officials as long as a quorum isn't present.

33. Spending Less on Marketing - Wednesday, March 06, 2013

Countless studies have proven that it’s generally six to eight times more expensive to attract a new customer than to sell more product or service to an existing customer. Why, then, do so many view sales as a linear process, which ends when the sale is closed?

34. McGriff Retires From Drug Task Force - Saturday, March 02, 2013

David N. McGriff, the director of the West Tennessee Violent Crime and Drug Task Force as well as chief investigator for the Criminal Investigative Division of the Shelby County District Attorney General’s office is retiring.

35. Wonder Bread Sale Nearing Completion - Saturday, March 02, 2013

Wonder bread could start appearing in school lunchboxes again soon.

A person familiar with the situation says a bid by Flowers Foods to buy Wonder and several other bread brands from bankrupt Hostess was met with no competing offers. The individual requested anonymity because the auction process is private.

36. McGriff Retires From Drug Task Force - Friday, March 01, 2013

David N. McGriff, the director of the West Tennessee Violent Crime and Drug Task Force as well as chief investigator for the Criminal Investigative Division of the Shelby County District Attorney General’s office is retiring.

37. Wonder Bread Sale Nears Completion - Thursday, February 28, 2013

Wonder bread could start appearing in school lunchboxes again soon.

A person familiar with the situation says a bid by Flowers Foods to buy Wonder and several other bread brands from bankrupt Hostess was met with no competing offers. The individual requested anonymity because the auction process is private.

38. Savings Isn’t Only Pillar of Successful Retirement - Thursday, February 28, 2013

Ray’s Take I’m always emphasizing the importance of saving for retirement. However, you need more than a savings plan if you want to improve your odds for a more fulfilling “third act” of life. You also need to have a plan for what you actually want to do with your time.

39. Local Projects Up for Statewide Engineering Award - Saturday, February 23, 2013

Six Memphis-area projects are among those being considered in the 2013 Engineering Excellence Awards competition, presented by the American Council of Engineering Companies of Tennessee.

“Ridgeway Trace Retail Center” was completed by Kimley-Horn and Associates Inc. for Weingarten Realty Investors. Surrounding the highly congested area near Ridgeway Trace, and traffic was improved by coordinating five traffic signals, adding lanes and widening roadways surrounding the development.

40. Local Projects in Running for Statewide Engineering Award - Wednesday, February 20, 2013

Six Memphis-area projects are among those being considered in the 2013 Engineering Excellence Awards competition, presented by the American Council of Engineering Companies of Tennessee.

“Ridgeway Trace Retail Center” was completed by Kimley-Horn and Associates Inc. for Weingarten Realty Investors. Surrounding the highly congested area near Ridgeway Trace, and traffic was improved by coordinating five traffic signals, adding lanes and widening roadways surrounding the development.

41. Marketing Strategies to Avoid - Wednesday, February 20, 2013

Marketing opportunities change so rapidly these days that it can be tough to keep up. If you’re unsure whether your brand is setting the pace or falling behind, take a look at the following marketing strategies to avoid in 2013.

42. Green Line Marketing Doubles Office - Friday, February 15, 2013

Green Line Marketing Group has outgrown its East Memphis office space due to its expanded staff and client roster.

The boutique agency has signed a 2,000-square-foot lease in Racquet Club Plaza, where it will relocate from its three 350-square-foot executive suites in Clark Tower by the end of the month.

43. Mayor, Banks Revive Program Targeting City’s Unbanked - Monday, February 04, 2013

It started with a letter. More than two dozen of them, actually. Bankers from around Memphis got a missive from Memphis Mayor A C Wharton Jr. in 2010 that solicited help from bankers like Joe DiNicolantonio, West Tennessee area president for Regions Bank.

44. Torrini Joins Tactical Magic as Marketing Strategist - Thursday, January 31, 2013

Megan Torrini has joined Tactical Magic and will serve as a marketing strategist for the Memphis-based branding specialist firm.

Torrini specializes in creating strategic communication and marketing plans and developing promotional and advertising campaigns. She has worked on both the client and agency sides with a variety of industries, including commercial real estate, gaming, sports, restaurants and hospitality.

45. Gowen Named Marketing Head at Renshaw Property Management - Wednesday, January 30, 2013

Kellyn Gowen has joined Renshaw Property Management as marketing coordinator. In her new role, Gowen manages social media, marketing and communications for the company’s 800 Mid-South rental properties, serves as a liaison for property owners and real estate agents, and spearheads marketing efforts for vacant properties.

46. You Can Still Save for Retirement - Thursday, January 24, 2013

Ray’s Take It may feel as if those gray hairs are multiplying faster than your 401(k). Or maybe your career or other life experience has thrown you curve balls that ate through your savings. Either way, it’s not too late to save for a more comfortable future!

47. Epic Marketing Failures of 2012 - Wednesday, January 23, 2013

Despite their considerable marketing budgets and extensive teams, some of the world’s most well-known brands made significant marketing missteps in 2012. Learn from these epic fails to protect your brand.

48. Business CEOs Call for Raising Retirement Age - Thursday, January 17, 2013

WASHINGTON (AP) – An influential group of business CEOs is pushing a plan to gradually increase the full retirement age to 70 for both Social Security and Medicare and to partially privatize the health insurance program for older Americans.

49. Factor Inflation in Your Retirement - Thursday, January 17, 2013

Ray’s Take Did you realize that just a 2 percent annual inflation rate would result in 27 percent higher prices in a mere 12 years? If inflation were at 3 percent during that time period, prices would soar 43 percent. Three percent is the historic average inflation rate, but it has been much much higher at times. We have all been lulled into complacency in recent years with historically low inflation rates.

50. Court Continues Order Targeting Voter Intimidation - Tuesday, January 15, 2013

The Supreme Court has turned down an effort by the Republican National Committee to end a 30-year-old court order aimed at preventing intimidation of minority voters.

The justices did not comment Monday in rejecting an appeal of lower court decisions that left the order in place at least until 2017.

51. School Closings Meetings Move to Orleans Elementary - Monday, January 14, 2013

Memphis City Schools officials host the next in a series of meetings on proposed school closings Tuesday Jan. 15 at Orleans Elementary School, 1400 McMillan St., from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m.

52. Kyle Wants GOP Senate Caucus Meetings Open - Thursday, January 10, 2013

NASHVILLE (AP) – The top Democrat in the state Senate is calling on Republicans to make the upper chamber of the General Assembly subject to open government laws, saying he wants to see more transparency in government.

53. ServiceMaster Employee Retires After 50 Years - Saturday, December 29, 2012

Just before the Christmas holiday break, Frances Hill retired from Memphis-based ServiceMaster Co. after more than 50 years.

54. ServiceMaster Employee Retires After 50 Years - Thursday, December 27, 2012

Just before the Christmas holiday break, Frances Hill retired from Memphis-based ServiceMaster Co. after more than 50 years.

55. Top 10 Smart Marketing Trends for 2013 - Thursday, December 27, 2012

Make it your resolution to execute these Top 10 smart marketing trends in 2013.

1. Visual Storytelling – Thanks to image-centric sites like Pinterest and Instagram, 2012 became the year of brand visualization. Visual content is now in higher demand than ever before and brands must step up and tell their story through more than words.

56. Home Builders Association Presents Lifetime Awards - Saturday, December 22, 2012

Memphis Area Home Builders Association presented lifetime achievement awards to Jim Reid, Dudley Schaefer Sr., Monroe Pointer and Tommy Cox at the trade organization’s annual holiday gala earlier this month.

57. Medicare Premiums Could Rise for Many Retirees - Friday, December 21, 2012

WASHINGTON (AP) – They may not agree on much else, but there's a change to Medicare that President Barack Obama and Republicans both support: Expand a little-known law so more retirees that the government considers well-off are required to pay higher monthly premiums.

58. Perl Retires From Airport Board - Thursday, December 20, 2012

The Memphis-Shelby County Airport Authority will begin the next year with an empty chairman’s seat as Arnold Perl retired Thursday, Dec. 20, after 31 years of service, including 16 years as the committee’s chairman.

59. Conflict Charge Roils Busy School Board Meeting - Wednesday, December 19, 2012

One countywide school board member called Tuesday, Dec. 18, for the resignation of another board member over an alleged conflict of interest.

School board member Martavius Jones offered a resolution calling on board member David Pickler to resign over money put aside by school districts under the Tennessee School Boards Association to cover the liability of OPEB amounts – other post-employment benefits.

60. California Firm Buys Cordova Retirement Home for $8.7 Million - Wednesday, December 12, 2012

An affiliate of Long Beach, Calif.-based real estate investment trust HCP Inc. has paid $8.7 million for the Emeritus of Cordova retirement community at 1535 Appling Care Lane in Cordova.

61. Inherent Dangers of Do-It-Yourself Marketing - Wednesday, December 12, 2012

When you own or operate a small or mid-sized company, you likely have an innate sense of self-reliance. It’s that desire to get things done on your own that probably got you to where you are today. That same drive to maintain unencumbered control, however, may be inhibiting your growth when it comes to the development and execution of your marketing strategy. While seemingly counterintuitive, here’s why this is often the case.

62. American Home Shield Names Marketing Officer - Monday, December 10, 2012

Philipp von Holtzendorff-Fehling has been named vice president and chief marketing officer of American Home Shield.

Von Holtzendorff-Fehling comes to the division of The ServiceMaster Co. after serving as chief marketing officer of The Dallas Morning News.

63. Wright Medical to Buy BioMimetic for $190 Million - Monday, November 19, 2012

Medical device maker Wright Medical Group Inc. plans to buy BioMimetic Therapeutics Inc. in a $190 million cash-and-stock deal to help grow its foot and ankle business.

64. County Retirement Fund has Strong September - Thursday, November 15, 2012

The size of Shelby County’s retirement fund portfolio in September represented the biggest monthly total for 2012.

In fact, the county’s nearly $950 million retirement fund – the amount it stood at as of September, the most recent figures show – is now as big as it’s been since July 2011, when the fund’s valuation approached $970 million.

65. Achievement School District Leaders Hold Meetings - Wednesday, November 14, 2012

Leaders of the Achievement School District started earlier in the run-up to their second school year than they did with the first group of five Memphis schools they picked for the state-run district’s debut in August.

66. Sales, Marketing Lessons From Presidential Campaign - Wednesday, November 07, 2012

Despite your political affiliations or how your candidate fared in this year’s presidential election, it’s tough not to appreciate the full-court press the candidates give in selling and marketing their own personal brands. In fact, there are sales and marketing takeaways that we can glean from one of the most expensive elections (AKA “ad campaigns”) in our nation’s history – lessons we can leverage in promoting our own local brands.

67. Wells Fargo Survey: Retirement Picture Looks Grim - Monday, November 05, 2012

If a Wells Fargo & Co. survey is any indication, there’s no way to sugarcoat it: The retirement years look bleak for a large swath of the U.S. population. Take the fact that, according to the survey, more than one-third of respondents might find themselves living close to poverty in their golden years. Those 34 percent expect their retirement income to be half of their current income.

68. Delta Looks Ahead to December Refleeting - Friday, October 26, 2012

Delta Air Lines executives are about to refleet. Leaders of the Atlanta-based airline with a hub in Memphis will roll out details at a December investors day conference in Atlanta.

But during Delta’s third-quarter earnings conference call this week, they talked in broad terms of a domestic fleet restructuring. It involves removing 50-seat aircraft and replacing them with “mainline” aircraft that are 76 seats and larger with the first arrivals in the refleeting next summer.

69. Meeting Set in Mill Blast Suit - Thursday, October 25, 2012

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) – A settlement conference is scheduled Thursday in a federal lawsuit brought by a man who was injured in an explosion at an International Paper Co. mill in Mississippi in 2008.

70. Fed Likely to Send Wait-and-See Signal at Meeting - Wednesday, October 24, 2012

WASHINGTON (AP) — Six weeks ago, the Federal Reserve unveiled its latest plan to invigorate the U.S. economy. This week, the Fed will likely send a simple message:

Give that plan time to work.

71. Retirement Worries Grow; 30-Somethings Most Uneasy - Tuesday, October 23, 2012

WASHINGTON (AP) — Younger Americans in their late 30s are now the group most likely to doubt they will be financially secure after retirement, a major shift from three years ago when baby boomers nearing retirement age expressed the greatest worry.

72. James Haslam Retires From First Horizon Board - Friday, October 19, 2012

James “Jimmy” Haslam has retired as a member of the board of directors of First Tennessee Bank’s parent company.

73. Growing Together: Synthetic Teamwork - Wednesday, October 17, 2012

In Henry Mintzberg’s 1994 landmark book, “The Rise and Fall of Strategic Planning,” the author calls for a new method to create effective strategies. He notes that “Strategic planning isn’t strategic thinking. One is analysis, the other is synthesis.”

74. Design Review Board OKs Athletic Club Construction - Monday, October 08, 2012

The Downtown Memphis Commission’s Design Review Board approved Wednesday, Oct. 3, the construction and renovation application of EYKONIC Group LLC’s Downtown Athletic Club at 387 S. Main St.

75. AutoZone's Olsen Set to Retire This Year - Thursday, October 04, 2012

AutoZone Inc. corporate development officer Robert Olsen is retiring later this year, the Memphis-based auto parts retailer announced Tuesday, Oct. 2.

76. No Shortcuts to Meeting Your Fundraising Goal - Friday, September 21, 2012

Part one of a two-part series “Sadly, I have to report that I and we failed.” That is not a good message to have to deliver. But it is part of life. The above quote is from a report given by Robert D. Sweeney, senior vice president for development and public affairs to the University of Virginia board of visitors at its Sept. 14 meeting. Sweeney was reporting on the progress of the University’s $3 billion capital campaign.

77. Small Businesses Top of Mind For Green Line Marketing - Monday, September 17, 2012

When Meghan Heimke was considering names for her boutique marketing firm three years ago, she didn’t have to look much further than her own backyard.

“When I actually started this business and decided to go out on my own, I lived in Midtown and my house backed up to the (Shelby Farms) Greenline,” Heimke said. “My thought was, no matter where this business goes or where this path takes me, I started on the Greenline.”

78. Next-Generation Theater - Monday, September 17, 2012

Plans are moving forward for The Orpheum Theatre Memphis’ new Performing Arts and Leadership Centre, a $10.7 million facility that will enable growth in student participation and other professional development programs.

79. Paradigm Marketing Opens Dallas Location - Friday, September 14, 2012

Memphis-based firm Paradigm Marketing & Creative has opened a satellite office in Dallas in an effort to expand its business and gain clients in a growing market area.

The majority of Paradigm’s clients come from the areas of real estate and development, hospitality, medical, biosciences and other service-related industries.

80. Survey Finds US Competitive Ranking Down Again - Thursday, September 06, 2012

LONDON (AP) – The United States' ability to compete on the global stage has fallen for the fourth year running as confidence in the country's politicians continues to decline, an annual survey from the World Economic Forum found Wednesday.

81. Instagram Marketing Secrets - Wednesday, September 05, 2012

It’s not often that a company with essentially no revenue sells for nearly a billion dollars, but that’s just what happened when Facebook wrote the largest check for a social media network ever this year. So what inspired the Facebook founder’s record-breaking purchase of Instagram?

82. Sharp Seeks 2,000 Early Retirement for Job Cuts - Wednesday, August 29, 2012

TOKYO (AP) – Money-losing Japanese electronics maker Sharp Corp. is calling for about 2,000 early retirement applications under its turnaround plan.

83. AP Exclusive: Romney Uses Secretive Data-Mining - Monday, August 27, 2012

WASHINGTON (AP) – Mitt Romney's success in raising hundreds of millions of dollars in the costliest presidential race ever can be traced in part to a secretive data-mining project that sifts through Americans' personal information – including their purchasing history and church attendance – to identify new and likely, wealthy donors, The Associated Press has learned.

84. Gilbert Joins Campbell Clinic As Marketing Director - Wednesday, August 22, 2012

Chad Gilbert has joined Campbell Clinic as director of marketing. In his new role, Gilbert manages external marketing, advertising and public relations for Campbell’s four Mid-South offices and serves as liaison for the organization, managing several sports medicine partnerships.

85. Lululemon Athletica to Open in Regalia - Wednesday, August 22, 2012

Yoga-inspired athletic apparel company Lululemon Athletica Inc. is opening its first Memphis store this week, following more than a year of market due diligence.

86. South Main Athletic Club, Cafe Wins $200K Loan - Thursday, August 16, 2012

After some initial concerns by the Center City Development Corp. board, a local development team has received the green light to move forward with its plans to renovate the 26,500-square-foot building at 387 S. Main St. into a mixed-use development that will include an athletic club and café.

87. South Main Athletic Club, Cafe Wins $200K Loan - Wednesday, August 15, 2012

After some initial concerns by the Center City Development Corp. board, a local development team has received the green light to move forward with its plans to renovate the 26,500-square-foot building at 387 S. Main St. into a mixed-use development that will include an athletic club and café.

88. Gatewood Named Marketing Dir. At Methodist Healthcare - Wednesday, August 15, 2012

Megan Gatewood has been promoted to marketing director at Methodist Healthcare. In her new role, Gatewood is responsible for developing and overseeing marketing strategies for Methodist’s adult hospitals, outpatient services and physician practices.

89. Nursing Job Market More Competitive - Tuesday, August 14, 2012

Health care experts say Tennessee’s nursing job market has grown more competitive in recent years.

The Chattanooga Times Free Press reports that the state has added more than 10,000 registered nurses in the last half-decade.

90. Chance Meeting Leads Lambert to Legal Career - Thursday, July 26, 2012

As an undergraduate student studying communications at the University of Mississippi, Mark Lambert was leaning toward a career in advertising, and the possibility of being an attorney had never even crossed his mind.

91. Trustee Lenoir Appointed To Retirement Board Committee - Tuesday, July 24, 2012

Shelby County Trustee David Lenoir has been appointed to the Shelby County Retirement Board’s investment committee.

92. Green Line Marketing Adds Team Members - Monday, July 23, 2012

Green Line Marketing has hired Rachel Carpenter as the agency’s chief operating officer and Lindsey Graeber as an account manager.

93. Capital One to Pay $210M Over Marketing Tactics - Thursday, July 19, 2012

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Obama administration's consumer watchdog agency flexed its enforcement muscles for the first time Wednesday and ordered Capital One Bank to repay millions of credit card customers allegedly tricked into buying costly add-on services.

94. East Joins Carriage Crossing As Marketing Coordinator - Wednesday, July 18, 2012

Kendra East has joined Carriage Crossing as marketing coordinator. East’s new responsibilities include creating and implementing the lifestyle center’s yearly marketing budget, spearheading onsite events and leading merchant communication.

95. Fed Was Split Over Policy Action at June Meeting - Thursday, July 12, 2012

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Federal Reserve is open to taking further action to support the struggling U.S. economy. But minutes of the Fed's June meeting show policymakers at odds over whether the economy needs more help now.

96. Where Do Retirement Dollars Go Further? - Thursday, July 12, 2012

Ray’s Take There are many things to consider when selecting a place to spend your retirement years, or as I prefer to call them, your financial independence years. Not the least is selecting a place where your financial resources have the best odds of achieving your goals. State policies on property, income, sales, and estate taxes have a large bearing on this. However, the right combination for each retiree is different.

97. Univ. of Memphis Raises $15 Million for Athletics - Monday, July 09, 2012

MEMPHIS (AP) – University of Memphis athletic officials say more than $15 million was raised during the 2011-12 fiscal year, including $7 million in donations to the Tiger Scholarship Fund.

98. Sensory Marketing Improves Customer Experience - Friday, June 29, 2012

One of the most intriguing marketing methods that has been used increasingly throughout the years is sensory marketing. Sensory marketing is utilizing all of the human senses in order to affect how customers perceive their experience with a product.

99. Clients are the Big Fish At Nicholson’s Marketing Firm - Friday, June 29, 2012

Tim Nicholson is the founder and owner of Bigfish, a Memphis-based branding, website development and social media-focused marketing company that celebrates its 10th anniversary this year.

100. A Battle for Internet Freedom as UN Meeting Nears - Monday, June 25, 2012

WASHINGTON (AP) – A year after the Internet helped fuel the Arab Spring uprisings, the role cyberspace plays in launching revolutions is being threatened by proposed changes to a United Nations telecommunications treaty that could allow countries to clamp down on the free flow of information.