NEW YORK (AP) – It was supposed to be our IPO, the people's public offering.

Facebook, the brainchild of a young CEO who sauntered into Wall Street meetings in a hoodie, was going to be bigger than Amazon, bigger than McDonald's, bigger than Coca-Cola. And it was all made possible by our friendships, photos and family ties.

2. We Made a Mistake - Monday, May 20, 2013

Like a carpenter who utilizes an arsenal of powerful tools with extreme caution – because they hold enough power to accidentally saw off a finger or a hand – PR professionals carefully craft statements and key messages for brands because they too have the potential to “cut off” something valuable to a company – like an entire target audience. The statement “we made a mistake” is one of the most powerful declarations a brand can make, but as with all powerful things, it must be used carefully and with precision.

3. EPayment America Debuts Social Commerce Tool - Saturday, May 18, 2013

Christopher Reckert, president and CEO of Memphis-based ePaymentAmerica, has created a new social commerce tool called Yapyzal, which launched this week.

The tool is intended to allow businesses to design and share product offers on social media sites, then complete the sale via secure credit and debit card processing without leaving the social media platform.

4. Events - Saturday, May 18, 2013

The Black Business Association of Memphis will meet Thursday, May 23, at 8 a.m. at the Renaissance Business Center, 555 Beale St. Jack Sammons, chairman of the Memphis-Shelby County Airport Authority, will discuss what new developments at the airport mean for small businesses. R.S.V.P. to myron@whatshappeningmyron.com.

5. Events - Friday, May 17, 2013

Germantown Community Theatre will present the musical “Ruthless” May 17 to June 2 at the theater, 3037 Forest Hill-Irene Road. Visit germantowncommunitytheatre.org.

6. EPayment America Launches Social Commerce Tool - Thursday, May 16, 2013

Christopher Reckert, president and CEO of Memphis-based ePaymentAmerica, has created a new social commerce tool called Yapyzal, which launched this week.

The tool is intended to allow businesses to design and share product offers on social media sites, then complete the sale via secure credit and debit card processing without leaving the social media platform.

7. Events - Thursday, May 16, 2013

The Memphis in May World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest will be held Thursday, May 16, through Saturday, May 18, at Tom Lee Park, on Riverside Drive Downtown. Tickets are $9 at the gate. Visit memphisinmay.org.

8. RIM Unveils Cheaper BlackBerry - Wednesday, May 15, 2013

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) – Research In Motion unveiled a lower-cost BlackBerry aimed at consumers in emerging markets on Tuesday, and said it will offer its once-popular BlackBerry Messenger service on iPhones and devices running Google's Android software.

9. Drugstore Corridor - Wednesday, May 15, 2013

Walgreen Co. is building a new store on Poplar Avenue in East Memphis amid some of the most important and valuable commercial real estate in the city.

10. City Third Worst in US for Asthma Sufferers - Tuesday, May 14, 2013

A recent study by the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America placed Memphis No. 3 on a list of the most challenging places in the U.S. to live in with the chronic disease. In 2012, Memphis ranked No. 1.

11. Thomas & Betts CEO Sees Growth Post-Acquisition - Monday, May 13, 2013

Dominic Pileggi, the retired CEO of Thomas & Betts Corp., remembers being concerned more than a year ago when the Memphis-based maker of low voltage electrical and utility hardware was in talks with ABB Group of Zurich to buy Thomas & Betts.

12. Civic Leader Says City Has ‘Right Stuff’ - Monday, May 13, 2013

A little less than two years ago, Dr. Robert Ross was up for a standard performance review from the board of the foundation he leads.

13. May 10-16: This week in Memphis history - Saturday, May 11, 2013

2011: The Mississippi River at Memphis crested at 48 feet, the highest level since the all- time record 1937 flooding on the river at Memphis of 48.7 feet. Large crowds of Memphians came to the riverfront the weekend before the crest to snap photos and see for themselves the river at the highest level many had ever seen in their lives. Greenbelt Park on Mud Island, which normally floods during the spring, was closed by the city as the muddy water rose to the paved walkway on the west side of Island Road. The river waters invaded the Riverwalk model on Mud Island as well. And the Memphis in May International Barbecue Cooking Contest was moved from the park to Tiger Lane at the Fairgrounds.

14. Danish Manufacturer Roxul Brings Facility to Byhalia - Friday, May 10, 2013

Just a few feet beyond the Tennessee-Mississippi state line past the Fayette County line on U.S. 72 is the turn onto Cayce Road in Byhalia and what is soon to be the first U.S. plant of the Danish company Roxul Inc.

15. African-American TV Station Broadens Presence - Thursday, May 09, 2013

A new set of programming on Comcast Channel 31 geared toward Memphis’ African-American community is continuing to broaden its presence in the city.

The Carter Malone Group has developed a website for the venture, called MUTV1, which is short for Memphis Urban Television 1. In addition to serving as its agency of record, The Carter Malone Group CEO Deidre Malone also has a show on the channel called “Dialogue with Deidre.”

16. Events - Tuesday, May 07, 2013

Memphis Rotary Club will meet Tuesday, May 7, at noon at the University Club of Memphis, 1346 Central Ave. Jeremy Park, director of the Lipscomb Pitts Breakfast Club, will discuss corporate philanthropy and community building. Cost is $18. R.S.V.P. to Taylor Hughes at taylor@memphisrotary.org.

17. Obama Nominates Pritzker, Froman for Economic Jobs - Friday, May 03, 2013

WASHINGTON (AP) – President Barack Obama on Thursday chose two old friends with corporate executive experience for top posts on his economic team, naming longtime fundraiser Penny Pritzker as Commerce secretary and adviser Michael Froman as U.S. Trade Representative.

18. Buffett Says Women Key to Nation’s Prosperity - Friday, May 03, 2013

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) – Billionaire Warren Buffett is optimistic about America’s economic future because the nation has begun to unleash the potential of women.

Buffett’s views on the role of women appeared online Thursday in an editorial he wrote for Fortune magazine.

19. International Paper’s Net Earnings Up - Thursday, May 02, 2013

Memphis-based International Paper Co. reported net earnings Thursday, May 2, of $318 million for the first quarter of 2013, a $130 million increase from a year ago.

Quarterly net sales for International Paper of $7.1 billion were up $400 million from a year ago but the same as for the fourth quarter of 2012.

20. Arts Award - Tuesday, April 30, 2013

The New Ballet Ensemble and School is a first-time recipient of a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts, money the Midtown-based school is using to create and perform an original dance work.

21. Internet Sales Tax Bill to Hit Roadblock in House - Monday, April 29, 2013

WASHINGTON (AP) – A bill to require Internet shoppers to pay sales taxes for online purchases may be cruising through the Senate but it will soon hit a roadblock in the House.

"There's a lot of political difficulty getting through the fog of it looking like a tax increase," said Rep. Steve Womack, R-Ark., one of the main sponsors of the bill in the House.

22. April 26-May 2: This Week in Memphis History - Saturday, April 27, 2013

1993: On the front page of The Daily News is a story looking at the formal opening on the Main Street Trolley, a project eight years in the making that remade what had been the Mid-America Mall. The Memphis Area Transit Authority offered free trolley rides the first two days of operation.

23. House Bill Shifts Funds in Health Care Law - Thursday, April 25, 2013

WASHINGTON (AP) – After dozens of attempts to overturn the new health care law, House Republicans on Wednesday took a different tack, promoting legislation that would come to the rescue of a prominent program in the new law at the expense of another vital element of the law.

24. House GOP Gears Up for Debt Showdown This Summer - Thursday, April 25, 2013

WASHINGTON (AP) – Get ready for another debt showdown this summer. House Republicans are preparing for one.

The House Ways and Means Committee passed a bill Wednesday to protect Social Security recipients and investors in Treasury bonds if the government hits the limit of its borrowing authority.

25. Light Years Ahead - Thursday, April 25, 2013

About 1 out of every 20 hospitalized patients in the U.S. will acquire another infection during the course of their treatment, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

These infections, dubbed health care-associated infections, can be devastating for patients, and costly for hospitals.

26. If You Can’t Win, Change the Game - Wednesday, April 24, 2013

In today’s dynamic world it is imperative for companies to continually realize growth through a sustainable competitive advantage. The trouble is that every innovation is just one new innovation away from becoming obsolete. How do proactive companies stay one step ahead?

27. Downtown Car Share Service to Launch This Week - Tuesday, April 23, 2013

The city’s first car sharing service has its launch Thursday, April 25, in Court Square.

The Downtown Memphis Commission has a partnership with Zipcar, a brand of Avis Budget Group Inc., for the four cars available in the Downtown area.

28. Four-Way Self Storage Facility Sells for $1.3 Million - Tuesday, April 23, 2013

6780 Country Park Drive Memphis, TN 38134

Sale Amount: $1.3 million

Sale Date: April 9, 2013

29. Mitsubishi Back Story Moves to Manufacturing - Tuesday, April 23, 2013

The back story of the new Mitsubishi Electric Power Products Inc. plant that formally opened in Southwest Memphis last week includes a sewer pipe, the Mojave Desert and artificial lightning.

30. International Paper Talking Xpedx Merger - Monday, April 22, 2013

Memphis-based International Paper Co. acknowledged Monday that it is in talks with Unisource about a possible merger of Unisource and IP’s xpedx printing distribution business.

31. Mitsubishi Plant Opens in Southwest Memphis - Saturday, April 20, 2013

A group of 200 dignitaries marked the formal opening Friday, April 19, of the Mitsubishi Electric Power Products Inc. plant in Southwest Memphis.

32. County Commission Approves Tall Trees Sale - Saturday, April 20, 2013

Shelby County Commissioners approved Monday, April 15, the sale of the old Tall Trees Juvenile Detention facility at 3335 Old Getwell Road.

33. Landings Apartment Owner Files $8.7 Million Loan - Friday, April 19, 2013

The owner of the 292-unit Landings apartments at 3550 Brownbark Drive in Hickory Hill has filed an $8.7 million loan on the property.

34. Bank of America Closes One Mortgage Lawsuit, Another Lingers - Thursday, April 18, 2013

NEW YORK (AP) — As soon as Bank of America puts one mortgage-related lawsuit behind it, another always seems to rear its head.

The bank announced Wednesday that it would pay $500 million to settle a class-action lawsuit led by pension funds and other investors who say they were misled about mortgage-backed investments they bought from Countrywide, a mortgage lender Bank of America bought in 2008. The bank portrayed the settlement as good news because it resolved the bulk of securities claims related to residential mortgage-backed securities.

35. Riding the Rails - Thursday, April 18, 2013

By some estimates, America’s railroad companies are in the midst of the largest investment boom since the Gilded Age – when America’s railroad track mileage tripled between 1860 and 1880.

This year, North American’s freight railroads plan to invest $24.5 billion in intermodal terminals, new track, bridges and tunnels, safety equipment and rail cars, according to the Association of American Railroads.

36. County Commission Approves Tall Trees Sale - Wednesday, April 17, 2013

Shelby County Commissioners approved Monday, April 15, the sale of the old Tall Trees Juvenile Detention facility at 3335 Old Getwell Road.

37. The Heart and Soul in Sports - Tuesday, April 16, 2013

Last week we spotlighted St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, which is a world leader in the fight against childhood cancer and other deadly diseases. This week let us discuss an organization that is making a positive, and eternal, impact in the arena of athletics: the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.

38. Shelby County Mortgage Market Up 2 Percent - Tuesday, April 16, 2013

Someone let out a cheer earlier this month at the Memphis Area Association of Realtors 2013 Residential Real Estate Summit as MAAR President Regina Hubbard gave her optimistic forecast for the local housing market.

39. Commission Weighs Tall Trees Sale - Monday, April 15, 2013

The sale of the old Tall Trees juvenile detention facility, zoning code changes to account for trucks with four back tires and a possible revote on legal fees in the schools consolidation case top the Shelby County Commission agenda for Monday, April 15.

40. I’m Lucky to Know Bea - Friday, April 12, 2013

REMARKABLE CONNECTIONS. After last week’s column, Bea dropped me a thoughtful email note as she often does about whatever I’m writing about. My story about Linda Courtney and her son Bill struck a common chord, and Bea wanted to share.

41. Call to Action - Thursday, April 11, 2013

Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s famous father was a political iconoclast who captured the imagination of voters with stirring assurances in his speeches like, “Each time a man stands up for an ideal, he sends a tiny ripple of hope out into the world.”

42. Newspaper Revenue Fell 2 Percent to $38.6 Billion in 2012 - Tuesday, April 09, 2013

ARLINGTON, Va. (AP) – The newspaper industry's revenue declined at its slowest pace in six years, as publishers turned to new businesses and raised more money from online subscriptions.

43. Airline Passenger Complaints Surged in 2012 - Tuesday, April 09, 2013

WASHINGTON (AP) – Airline passengers are getting grumpier, and it's little wonder.

Airlines keep shrinking the size of seats to stuff more people onto planes, those empty middle seats that once provided a little more room are now occupied and more people with tickets are being turned away because flights are overbooked.

44. Canterbury Woods Owner Files Loan on Property - Tuesday, April 09, 2013

The owner of the 400-unit Canterbury Woods apartments at 6520 Macon Road has filed a $9.8 million loan on the property.

45. Decades After King’s Death, Memphis Jobs in Spotlight - Thursday, April 04, 2013

MEMPHIS (AP) – Decades after Martin Luther King Jr. was shot to death here, some of the striking sanitation workers who marched with him are again fighting for their jobs.

46. Fannie's Record Profit a Symbol of Housing Rebound - Wednesday, April 03, 2013

WASHINGTON (AP) – Home prices are up. Foreclosures are down. Construction is up. And now comes the latest sign of the U.S. home market's revival: Fannie Mae, the mortgage giant that nearly collapsed five years ago, has earned its biggest yearly profit ever.

47. Events - Wednesday, April 03, 2013

The Rotary Club of Memphis East will meet Wednesday, April 3, at noon at The Racquet Club of Memphis, 5111 Sanderlin Ave. U.S. Sen. Bob Corker will speak. Cost is $17. R.S.V.P. to Lee Hughes at lmhughes@bellsouth.net.

48. CBU Names Sumner-Winter Director of Stewardship - Wednesday, April 03, 2013

Wendy Sumner-Winter has been appointed director of stewardship and donor engagement at Christian Brothers University. In the newly created position, Sumner-Winter will oversee planning, strategy development and implementation of initiatives to increase communication and connections with the CBU community, including donors, alumni and friends.

49. Housing Huddle - Wednesday, April 03, 2013

Memphis Area Association of Realtors president Regina Hubbard got an unabashed response from the crowd at the Germantown Performing Arts Centre during the real estate group’s 2013 Residential Real Estate Summit.

50. Vox Awards Honors Best of Public Relations - Tuesday, April 02, 2013

The Memphis chapter of the Public Relations Society of America is holding its 2013 Vox Awards ceremony Thursday, April 4, at the University of Memphis Holiday Inn.

The event, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., honors the best Memphis PR campaigns and tactics. Naomi Bata, chief PR officer for archer-malmo, is the keynote speaker.

51. Nashville Symphony Facing Financial Hurdle - Monday, April 01, 2013

NASHVILLE (AP) – When Nashville's symphony hall opened in 2006, across the street from the Country Music Hall of Fame and just a short block from the honky-tonks of lower Broadway, the building was praised for its beauty and sound and the potential to upgrade the city's music image.

52. Events - Saturday, March 30, 2013

Tennessee Shakespeare Co. will present “Hamlet” Wednesday, April 3, through Sunday, April 14, at the Dixon Gallery and Gardens Winegardner Auditorium, 4339 Park Ave. Visit tnshakespeare.org for times and tickets.

53. Judge Indicates Support for American-US Airways Deal - Thursday, March 28, 2013

NEW YORK (AP) – A federal bankruptcy judge signaled his support for the $11 billion merger of American Airlines and US Airways.

But Judge Sean H. Lane deferred giving his official blessing until he could further consider the timing of a severance package for outgoing American CEO Tom Horton.

54. Events - Wednesday, March 27, 2013

Kiwanis Club of Memphis will meet Wednesday, March 27, from noon to 1 p.m. at The University Club of Memphis, 1346 Central Ave. Bill Gracey, CEO of BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee, will speak. Cost is $18 for nonmembers.

55. Phipps Named Vice President, COO at American Esoteric Laboratories - Wednesday, March 27, 2013

Dr. Amber R. Phipps has joined American Esoteric Laboratories, the Mid-South division of Sonic Healthcare USA, as vice president and chief operations officer. In her new role, Phipps will oversee all operations for AEL, which includes nine laboratories and more than 800 employees in six states. A captain in the U.S. Army Reserves, Phipps most recently served as a medical operations officer stationed at Fort Sam Houston, Texas.

56. Events - Tuesday, March 26, 2013

Memphis Rotary Club will meet Tuesday, March 26, at noon at the University Club of Memphis, 1346 Central Ave. Commercial Appeal publisher George Cogswell will speak. Cost is $18. R.S.V.P. to Taylor Hughes at taylor@memphisrotary.org.

57. Sammons Seeks Final Cut Numbers From Delta - Tuesday, March 26, 2013

Jack Sammons, the new chairman of the Memphis-Shelby County Airport Authority board, is no stranger to the flight from Memphis to Atlanta. Sammons long has been the board’s frequent flyer when it comes to business travel.

58. FCC Chairman Genachowski to Step Down - Monday, March 25, 2013

NEW YORK (AP) – The chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, Julius Genachowski, on Friday announced that he's stepping down in the "coming weeks," after a four-year tenure that's garnered mixed reviews for him and tangible progress in the industries he oversees.

59. Red Deluxe Adds Two New Clients - Monday, March 25, 2013

Memphis-based ad agency Red Deluxe is starting off the year with two new clients on board.

The agency is now working with New Hampshire-based College for America and the Washington-based ALS Association.

60. Events - Monday, March 25, 2013

Memphis Rotary Club will meet Tuesday, March 26, at noon at the University Club of Memphis, 1346 Central Ave. Commercial Appeal publisher George Cogswell will speak. Cost is $18. R.S.V.P. to Taylor Hughes at taylor@memphisrotary.org.

61. XMC Reaches Anniversary, Expands in East Tennessee - Monday, March 25, 2013

XMC Inc., the second-largest Xerox dealer in the U.S., is celebrating 20 years in business and is currently expanding into new areas of East Tennessee.

62. Fashion Philanthropy - Monday, March 25, 2013

Not many companies can say their customer base includes Sheryl Crow, JJ Grey and Mofro, Robert Plant, Brandi Carlile and Grace Potter.

63. Freddie Mac Accuses Banks of Rigging Rates - Saturday, March 23, 2013

Freddie Mac has sued 15 big international banks, including JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America and Citigroup, accusing them of rigging a key interest rate and causing huge losses for the government-controlled mortgage giant.

64. Events - Saturday, March 23, 2013

The Cotton Museum will host Patrick O’Daniel, discussing his book “When the Levee Breaks: Memphis and the Mississippi Valley Flood of 1927,” Thursday, March 28, at 5 p.m. at the museum, 65 Union Ave. Cost is free and includes a complimentary museum tour and reception. Visit memphiscottonmuseum.org.

65. ‘Teacher Town’ - Saturday, March 23, 2013

There was a time not too long ago when teacher residency programs in Memphis were exercises in isolation. The new teaching recruits in and out of those programs often talked of being overwhelmed in their new school and career environments. But in the larger maelstrom of changes to the face of local public education, the residency programs are growing across all the different types of public schools emerging in advance of the August merger of city and county schools.

66. Poll: Low-Wage Workers, Bosses at Odds on Training - Friday, March 22, 2013

WASHINGTON (AP) – As they struggle to get ahead, many low-wage workers are not taking advantage of job training or educational programs that could help them make the leap to better-paying jobs. They are often skeptical about whether such programs are even worth the trouble, a new survey shows.

67. Freddie Mac Accuses Big Banks of Rigging Lending Rate - Thursday, March 21, 2013

Freddie Mac has sued 15 big international banks, including JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America and Citigroup, accusing them of rigging a key interest rate and causing huge losses for the government-controlled mortgage giant.

68. Hagan Named President of Memphis Heritage Board - Wednesday, March 20, 2013

Joey Hagan, principal of Architecture Inc., has been named the 2013-2014 board president for Memphis Heritage Inc. after being nominated and elected by the previous board. Hagan’s primary responsibilities as one of two principals at Architecture Inc. include running the organization, marketing, design and project management. As MHI president, he will strive to continue to make preservation of important properties a priority for Memphians.

69. Swinnea Warehouse Sold in Lieu of Foreclosure - Tuesday, March 19, 2013

4550 Swinnea Road, Memphis, TN 38118

Sale Amount: $4.2 million
Sale Date: March 7, 2013
Buyer: JPMCC 2007-LDP10 – 4550 SWINNEA RD LLC
Seller: Industrial Memphis International Owner LLC
Details: The Memphis International Distribution Center at 4550 Swinnea Road in Oakhaven has sold for $4.2 million in lieu of foreclosure.

70. Carnival Returns to Profit; Travelers Fear Mishaps - Monday, March 18, 2013

MIAMI (AP) – The world's largest cruise line has suffered through a number of high-profile mishaps. Yet passengers continue to book vacations thanks to discounts, albeit at a slower pace.

71. Events - Saturday, March 16, 2013

Rhodes College will host Mia Farrow and son Ronan Farrow, presenting “Cinema, Politics and Mobilizing Change in Our Community” Tuesday, March 19, at 7:30 p.m. in the McCallum Ballroom of the Bryan Campus Life Center on campus, 2000 North Parkway. Email locap@rhodes.edu.

72. Storage Facility Owner Files Loan on Property - Monday, March 18, 2013

Storage Town Shelby GP has filed a $4 million loan on its facility at 7845 E. Shelby Drive in Southeast Shelby County.

73. New York Firm Buys Distribution Center for $24.7 Million - Monday, March 18, 2013

Gramercy Capital Corp. has acquired Hacks Cross Logistics Center Building 1 in Olive Branch for $24.7 million from Hillwood Investment Properties.

74. Boyle Celebrates 80 Years, Sponsors Art Exhibit - Monday, March 18, 2013

Boyle Investment Co. turns 80 this year, and has partnered with the Memphis Brooks Museum of Art to celebrate.

75. Gramercy Capital Acquires $25 Million Distribution Facility - Friday, March 15, 2013

Gramercy Capital Corp. has acquired Hacks Cross Logistics Center Building 1 in Olive Branch for $24.65 million from Hillwood Investment Properties.

76. Poll Finds Attitude Shift Among Working Moms - Friday, March 15, 2013

WASHINGTON (AP) – Working mothers increasingly want full-time jobs, and tough economic times might be a big reason, according to a national survey.

In the Pew Research Center study being released Thursday, researchers saw a big spike in the share of working mothers who said they'd prefer to work full time; 37 percent said that was their ideal, up from 21 percent in 2007.

77. Events - Friday, March 15, 2013

Playhouse on the Square will present “Angels in America Part One: Millennium Approaches and Part Two: Perestroika” Friday, March 15, through March 31 at Playhouse, 66 S. Cooper St. Visit playhouseonthesquare.org for times and tickets.

78. Insurers Warn of Overhaul-Induced Sticker Shock - Thursday, March 14, 2013

Some Americans could see their insurance bills double next year as the health care overhaul law expands coverage to millions of people.

The nation's big health insurers say they expect premiums – or the cost for insurance coverage – to rise from 20 to 100 percent for millions of people due to changes that will occur when key provisions of the Affordable Care Act roll out in January 2014.

79. Events - Thursday, March 14, 2013

The Memphis Light, Gas and Water Division Supplier Diversity Department will hold a vendor fair for minority- and women-owned small businesses Thursday, March 14, from 9 a.m. to noon in the MLGW administration building lobby, 220 S. Main St. Call Renise Holliday at 528-4635 for details.

80. Events - Wednesday, March 13, 2013

The Rotary Club of Memphis East will meet Wednesday, March 13, at noon at The Racquet Club of Memphis, 5111 Sanderlin Ave. Meri Armour, president and CEO of Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital, will speak. Cost is $17. R.S.V.P. to Lee Hughes at lmhughes@bellsouth.net.

81. FedEx Headquarters Building Sells for $22.6 Million - Tuesday, March 12, 2013

942 S. Shady Grove Road Memphis, TN 38119

Sale Amount: $22.6 million

Sale Date: Feb. 21, 2013

82. Southern College of Optometry Raises $3.3 Million in One Year - Saturday, March 09, 2013

Southern College of Optometry has raised more than $3.3 million in the year since it launched its “Envision Our Progress” campaign, setting a college fundraising record, it announced this week.

83. Southern College of Optometry Raises $3.3 Million in One Year - Friday, March 08, 2013

Southern College of Optometry has raised more than $3.3 million in the year since it launched its “Envision Our Progress” campaign, setting a college fundraising record, it announced this week.

84. Magic’s Offer a Lesson in Obscenity - Friday, March 08, 2013

Decades ago, Supreme Court Justice Potter Stewart summed up the definition of obscenity with these words: “I know it when I see it.”

Lately, a lot of national sports observers believe they have seen the definition of obscenity in the NCAA’s flawed investigation into what nevertheless was a rogue athletic program at the University of Miami, and in questions reportedly put to potential draftees at the recent NFL combine including the sinister, “Do you like girls?”

85. Special Master Has Tight Five-Month Window - Thursday, March 07, 2013

The special master appointed by U.S. District Court for the Western District of Tennessee Judge Samuel “Hardy” Mays to oversee the schools merger knows the political and fiscal dealings of large local government entities.

86. FedEx Headquarters Building Sells for $22.6 Million - Wednesday, March 06, 2013

The building that houses the corporate headquarters of FedEx Corp. at 942 S. Shady Grove Road in East Memphis has sold for $22.6 million.

87. Memphis in May Seeks Local Swedes for Festival - Wednesday, March 06, 2013

The 37th annual Memphis in May International Festival is a salute to Sweden, a country whose climate differs greatly from the host town but perhaps has some parallels in its rich history.

“The joke about Sweden is that nobody’s really from Sweden except for the Vikings and they’re long gone,” said Diane Hampton, executive vice president of Memphis in May. “But they all came there from other places. It’s kind of a melting pot of cultures as well – and a cold melting pot.”

88. California Company Buys Former Quebecor Facility - Tuesday, March 05, 2013

828 E. Holmes Road Memphis, TN 38116

Sale Amount: $2.7 million

Sale Date: Feb. 15, 2013

89. Technicolor Warehouse Sells for $25.2 Million - Monday, March 04, 2013

The 922,500-square-foot Technicolor warehouse at 4155 E. Holmes Road in Oakhaven has sold for $25.2 million following a foreclosure.

90. State Systems Installs Green Ballast Lighting - Saturday, March 02, 2013

State Systems Inc., a privately owned total protection company based in Memphis, has installed Green Ballast Inc.’s light ballasts in its corporate headquarters and warehouse facility at 3755 Cherry Road.

91. Events - Saturday, March 02, 2013

HopeWorks will hold its fifth annual A Morning of Hope fundraiser Saturday, March 2, from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. at Woodland Hills Event Center, 1000 Woodland Hills Drive. Bill Courtney, entrepreneur and the former coach featured in “Undefeated,” will present the keynote. Tickets are $50. Visit whyhopeworks.org or call 272-3700.

92. Changing Times - Saturday, March 02, 2013

After a four-decade existence, the Morgan Keegan name has been retired.

The announcement Raymond James Financial Inc. is dropping the Morgan Keegan name was made during Raymond James’ first quarter earnings conference call last month. Raymond James CEO Paul Reilly was giving analysts listening to the call an update on the firm’s acquisition of the Memphis investment firm last year and its integration since then.

93. Suits Dismissed Against Corps Over Nashville Flood - Friday, March 01, 2013

NASHVILLE (AP) – A federal judge has dismissed a pair of lawsuits claiming the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers was responsible for flood damage in 2010 to the Grand Ole Opry, Gibson Guitar and other Nashville-area businesses.

94. Events - Friday, March 01, 2013

Memphis City Beautiful and Memphis Botanic Garden will plant an Arizona Cypress as part of an Arbor Day ceremony Friday, March 1, at 10 a.m. at the garden’s horticulture center, 750 Cherry Road. Cost is free and will include a tree-seedling giveaway. Cherry tree seedlings will be available for sale. Visit memphisbotanicgarden.com.

95. Events - Thursday, February 28, 2013

Saint Francis Hospital-Memphis will host “Getting Heart Smart … What You Need to Know,” presented by Dr. Basil Paulus, Thursday, Feb. 28, at noon at the hospital, 5959 Park Ave. Visit saintfrancishosp.com.

96. JPMorgan to Trim 4,000 Jobs, Many in Consumer Banking - Wednesday, February 27, 2013

NEW YORK (AP) – JPMorgan is trimming about 4,000 jobs, or about 1.5 percent of its work force, becoming the latest big bank to shrink its staff.

The bank said the cuts will be focused in consumer banking and mortgages. Many of the cuts would come through attrition, but the bank will lay off workers as well, a bank spokeswoman said.

97. Keller Named President of Nonprofit Meritan - Wednesday, February 27, 2013

Melanie A. Keller has been named president of Meritan Inc. Keller, who joined the nonprofit social services agency in 2006, previously served as its executive vice president. In her new role, she is responsible for oversight of more than 500 employees and contractors as well as the agency’s $21 million annual budget. Keller also manages its quality improvement and strategic planning efforts.

98. Turley: ‘You Can Be Somebody in Memphis’ - Wednesday, February 27, 2013

Years after Henry Turley experienced the Memphis sanitation workers’ strike and the aftermath of Martin Luther King Jr.’s assassination, took advantage of the Community Reinvestment Act and persuaded banks to reinvest in the Downtown core, not to mention spearheaded revitalization in the Harbor Town and Uptown areas, he’s making a “micro bet” on building nice neighborhoods around excellent schools.

99. State Systems Installs Green Ballast Lighting - Tuesday, February 26, 2013

State Systems Inc., a privately-owned total protection company based in Memphis, has installed Green Ballast Inc.’s light ballasts in its corporate headquarters and warehouse facility at 3755 Cherry Road.

100. U of M Files Permit for New Residence - Tuesday, February 26, 2013

3615 Central Ave. Memphis, TN 38111

Permit Cost: $43.5 million

Project Cost: $53 million