Christopher Blank has joined WKNO-FM, the Mid-South affiliate of National Public Radio, as news director. Blank, who has produced feature stories for the station since 2011, will oversee local news production for “Morning Edition” and “All Things Considered.”

2. MAA: Merger Means Modest Job Growth - Friday, June 14, 2013

MAA expects modest job growth in Memphis from its merger with Colonial Properties Trust and believes its current headquarters can absorb any new employees that may arrive.

“We think there will be some job growth here I suspect by putting the combined corporate headquarters for the new company here but I would expect most of that would be lower-level management or clerical in nature,” said Eric Bolton, MAA CEO.

3. Evolve Adds Specialty Coffee to Customer Service - Saturday, June 08, 2013

Evolve Bank & Trust has added a new product to its list of offerings for customers – coffee.

The bank has partnered with J. Brooks Coffee Roasters, a local company with a top-notch roast master. “We started this partnership,” the bank tells shareholders in its latest update letter, “because everything about Evolve – our people, our products, our branches – is about the experience. We will be serving the coffee in our local branches and making it available to our offices nationwide.”

4. US Government Collecting Huge Number of Phone Records - Friday, June 07, 2013

WASHINGTON (AP) – The government is secretly collecting the telephone records of millions of U.S. customers of Verizon under a top-secret court order, according to the chairwoman of the Senate Intelligence Committee. The Obama administration is defending the National Security Agency's need to collect such records, but critics are calling it a huge over-reach.

5. New IRS Head Says Taxpayers No Longer Trust Agency - Tuesday, June 04, 2013

WASHINGTON (AP) – His agency under relentless fire, the new head of the Internal Revenue Service acknowledged to Congress on Monday that American taxpayers no longer trust the IRS amid a growing number of scandals – from the targeting of conservative political groups to lavish spending on employee conferences.

6. University Cabanas Sell for $2.1 Million - Tuesday, June 04, 2013

2059 Vollintine Ave., Memphis, TN 38107

Sale Amount: $2.1 million

Sale Date: May 20, 2013

7. Evolve Adds Specialty Coffee to its Customer Service - Monday, June 03, 2013

Evolve Bank & Trust has added a new product to its list of offerings for customers – coffee.

The bank has partnered with J. Brooks Coffee Roasters, a local company with a top-notch roast master. “We started this partnership,” the bank tells shareholders in its latest update letter, “because everything about Evolve – our people, our products, our branches – is about the experience. We will be serving the coffee in our local branches and making it available to our offices nationwide.”

8. Walker Leads Trust Growth at Commercial Bank - Saturday, June 01, 2013

Emily Walker, vice president and trust officer with Commercial Bank & Trust Co., has worked in Trust for the past 16 years and feels blessed to have been a part of so many lives.

9. Argent Hire Underscores Firm’s Growth - Saturday, June 01, 2013

The hiring of Phil Buchanan by Argent Financial Group as the company’s new president underscores what’s been a continual growth story at Argent.

Even before the Ruston, La.-based financial services firm established a Memphis presence in 2010, but especially since then, Argent has opened new offices, added staff, solidified its presence here and still managed to prepare for growth to come.

10. PURE GOLD: Use Effective Taglines - Wednesday, May 29, 2013

While many tools and technologies of marketing change at the speed of innovation, some fundamental elements retain their value. A few essential elements increase in value as more clutter finds new ways to compete for our increasingly valuable attention. Nothing has as much perennial value as an effective tagline.

11. Tennessee Receives Grant for Workforce Development - Wednesday, May 29, 2013

The Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce has announced the United States Department of Labor awarded the state $697,963 for exceeding all performance goals that were set for the state’s workforce development and education activities.

12. Former Ike’s on Summer Sells for $2.7 Million - Monday, May 27, 2013

4569 Summer Ave. Memphis, TN 38122

Sale Amount: $2.7 million

Sale Date: May 17, 2013

13. No Vision, No Gifts - Friday, May 24, 2013

Part one of three-part series on transformational giving. Philanthropy makes front-page news with the announcement of large, transformational gifts. Think Bill Gates. Oprah Winfrey. Warren Buffet. With the news comes the question, “What would it take for us to receive such a gift?” This three-part series seeks to provide insights that can help nonprofits begin a conversation that may itself be transformational.

14. Cresthaven Medical Building Sells for $2.5 Million - Tuesday, May 21, 2013

1068 Cresthaven Road Memphis, TN 38119

Sale Amount: $2.5 million

Sale Date: May 2, 2013

15. The Myth of Rationality - Monday, May 20, 2013

Do decisive people base their decisions on rational factors or do they often rely on intuition and emotions? According to Jan Halper’s book “Quite Desperation: The Truth About Successful Men,” if the truth were known, most executives rely more on emotional factors when making important decisions.

16. Obama: No Special Prosecutor to Investigate IRS - Friday, May 17, 2013

WASHINGTON (AP) – President Barack Obama dismissed the idea of a special prosecutor to investigate the Internal Revenue Service Thursday, saying probes by Congress and the Justice Department should be able to figure out who was responsible for improperly targeting tea party groups when they applied for tax-exempt status.

17. Non-Financial Fraud’s Growing Threat - Wednesday, May 15, 2013

Conventional fraud is all too familiar, including misappropriation of assets (better known as employee theft) and financial statement fraud (Enron, WorldCom and Stanford Financial Group).

However, a type of fraud climbing out from under-the-radar status is non-financial fraudulent statements – false or misleading information produced by an organization to the public or regulatory body.

18. Grizzlies Take Down Thunder in Overtime - Tuesday, May 14, 2013

Moments before Game 4 of the Grizzlies-Oklahoma City playoff series tipped off at FedExForum Monday night, Tony Allen, Mike Conley and Marc Gasol stood at midcourt to be recognized for making the NBA’s All-Defensive teams (Allen first-team, Gasol and Conley second-team).

19. Nurturing Social Capital - Friday, May 10, 2013

“Trusting relationships and reflection/rejuvenation are required for building strong networks and collaborations.”

That’s the word from Patricia Brandes, executive director of the Barr Foundation. She didn’t say more funding, more collaboration, lower expenses or greater impact. She focuses on the three R’s – relationships, reflection and rejuvenation.

20. Only Words - Thursday, May 09, 2013

With acknowledgments and apologies to Merriam-Webster. Here are my top 11 words (and phrases) that were admitted to the dictionary in the year 2012:

AHA MOMENT, noun. Point in time when one has a significant insight.

21. Rhodes Honors Gray for Outstanding Research - Wednesday, May 08, 2013

Dr. Patrick Gray, an associate professor in Rhodes College’s department of religious studies, has received the college’s Clarence Day Award for Outstanding Research. Gray’s research centers on biblical studies, specifically the history and literature of early Christianity and the Greco-Roman context.

22. Virginia Company Buys Poplar Avenue Retail Property - Tuesday, April 30, 2013

7665 Poplar Ave. Germantown, TN 38138

Sale Amount: $2.9 million

Sale Date: April 19, 2013

23. Board Continues Delay on Outsourcing Decision - Monday, April 29, 2013

Not every member of the countywide school board who voted against outsourcing custodial services in February is still trying to stop the contract to carry that out.

But enough were at the Thursday, April 25, special meeting of the board that there was another delay in going through with one of the most critical decisions the 23-member body will make about the merger. And another four to six school board members were absent during the series of votes.

24. Magna Intent on Raising Profile, Enhancing Services - Saturday, April 27, 2013

This year is turning out to be a big one for Magna Bank as it rolls out new products and services, adds key personnel and boosts its profile across the Mid-South.

25. 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.

26. Haslams Try to Halt Fallout From FBI Raid on Pilot - Thursday, April 25, 2013

NASHVILLE (AP) – Tennessee's Haslam family is furiously trying to control the damage following a federal investigation into the family business that could threaten to unravel decades of growing wealth and influence that spans business, sports and politics in the state and beyond.

27. Virginia Company Buys Poplar Avenue Retail Property - Thursday, April 25, 2013

A Reston, Va.-based company called Poplar Avenue LLC has paid $2.9 million for 7665 Poplar Ave. in Germantown.

28. Don’t Let Zeal Kill the Sale - Wednesday, April 24, 2013

Passion is a vital skill for entrepreneurs, but did you know it can actually kill a sales call? While it may seem counterintuitive, an overzealous spirit can simply overwhelm a prospect.

While asking for the sale is an essential selling skill, you have to earn the right to ask by first building trust with your prospect. While you’ll never land a sale if you don’t ask, sales is a process versus a question. If your enthusiasm gets the better of you, and you ask too soon, you’ll certainly get an answer – just not the one you want.

29. Fallout for States Rejecting Medicaid Expansion - Tuesday, April 23, 2013

WASHINGTON (AP) – Rejecting the Medicaid expansion in the federal health care law could have unexpected consequences for states where Republican lawmakers remain steadfastly opposed to what they scorn as "Obamacare."

30. 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

31. Kirby Food & Fuel Sells for $1.2 Million - Wednesday, April 17, 2013

The Kirby Food & Fuel gas station and convenience store at 4138 Kirby Parkway in Hickory Hill has sold for $1.2 million.

32. New York Company Buys Country Squire for $49.2 Million - Tuesday, April 09, 2013

8056 Country Squire Lane Cordova, TN 38018

Sale Amount: $49.2 million

Sale Date: March 28, 2013

33. Ark. Senate Panel Rejects Equal Rights Amendment - Wednesday, April 03, 2013

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) – A renewed effort to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment to the U.S. Constitution failed before an Arkansas state Senate panel Tuesday, after opponents said they believed the move would have unintended consequences ranging from mandatory coed bathrooms to government-funded abortions.

34. School Board Restructure Next for Federal Court - Wednesday, April 03, 2013

All sides in the federal lawsuit over the schools merger will be getting together soon to talk about the Shelby County Commission’s plan to restructure the countywide school board.

A trio of court filings before and after the Easter weekend set the stage for a decision to come by Judge Samuel “Hardy” Mays of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Tennessee on the commission’s plan to appoint six new school board members to take office Sept. 1.

35. Flairwood Apartments Sell for $1.3 Million - Tuesday, April 02, 2013

The 120-unit Flairwood Apartments at 4361 E. Tchulahoma Road in Oakhaven have sold for $1.3 million.

36. Panther Properties Buys Two Cordova Apartments - Tuesday, April 02, 2013

2350 N. Houston Levee Road and 2323 N. Houston Levee Road

37. BankTennessee Adds Controller, Vice President - Monday, April 01, 2013

BankTennessee has added a few new names to its ranks.

Jason McDoniel has joined BankTennessee as controller, and Mark Nance has joined the bank as a vice president in the bank’s treasury management department.

38. Panther Properties Buys Two Cordova Apartments - Monday, April 01, 2013

Woburn, Mass.-based Panther Properties Investment LLC has bought a pair of Cordova apartment complexes – the Villas at Grays Creek and the Carrington at Houston Levee – for a combined $44.8 million.

39. Highwoods Buys Land for International Paper Expansion - Thursday, March 28, 2013

Highwoods Realty LP has bought two parcels of East Memphis land totaling about 5.1 acres that will be used for International Paper’s headquarters expansion.

40. Haslam Rejects Medicaid Expansion - Wednesday, March 27, 2013

Tennessee will not accept an expansion of Medicaid funding under the Affordable Care Act, Gov. Bill Haslam announced Wednesday, March 27, to a joint session of the state’s General Assembly.

But Haslam also told legislators he is pursuing a “third option” between acceptance and rejection of the funding that would use the federal funding to allow uninsured Tennesseans eligible for TennCare, the state’s version of Medicaid, to buy private health insurance.

41. Make Memorable Impressions at Networking Events - Wednesday, March 27, 2013

Find yourself attending countless networking events with little result in new business generated? It’s possible you’re just not leaving a memorable impression. But don’t take it personally. Most attendees are more focused on what they’re going to say than what you or anyone else is saying. That’s why deploying attention-grabbing strategies are essential to generating a real return on your networking time investment.

42. Brooks’ Goal: Doing the ‘Conservative, Right Thing’ - Thursday, March 21, 2013

State Rep. Kevin Brooks, R-Cleveland, sees a simple, biblical guidepost for the lopsided Republican majority in the state House.

43. 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.

44. 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.

45. Holtzclaw on Front Line of Myriad Real Estate Projects - Monday, March 18, 2013

Anna Holtzclaw’s footprint is on property all over Memphis.

Since 2001, the real estate marketing entrepreneur has worked to promote properties developed and designed by the likes of the Henry Turley Co., LRK Inc. and Loeb Properties Inc.

46. Post-Trade Grizzlies Finding Identity - Friday, March 15, 2013

When Rudy Gay talked to Yahoo Sports about needing a change, about the trade from Memphis to Toronto being good for him, all the focus fell on the following quote about Memphis’s new ownership group:

47. In-Rel Files Two Loans on Lynnfield Portfolio - Thursday, March 14, 2013

A single-purpose entity related to Lake Worth, Fla.-based In-Rel Properties Inc. has filed a pair of $8 million loans on four Lynnfield Road office buildings in East Memphis.

48. Belle Harbour Apartments Owner Files $17.1 Million Loan - Tuesday, March 12, 2013

The owner of the 499-unit Belle Harbour Apartments on Mud Island Drive has filed a $17.1 million loan on the property.

Knickerbocker Properties XXXIX, an affiliate of New York-based Sentinel Real Estate Corp., filed the multifamily deed of trust, assignment of leases and rents, security agreement and fixture filing Feb. 26 through Berkeley Point Capital LLC.

49. TJX Leases Up Chickasaw Building D - Tuesday, March 12, 2013

The TJX Cos. Inc. has inked a substantial deal in Southeast Memphis, representing the largest industrial lease so far in 2013.

50. Commercial Professionals Achieve Designations - Saturday, March 09, 2013

Eleven members of local professional organizations in commercial real estate reached elite status in 2012 in their respective fields, which include the Memphis metro area’s appraisers, commercial brokers and property managers.

51. Gang Tackle - Saturday, March 09, 2013

Cecil Dotson was a gang member until the day he died violently five years ago this month.

He also worked every day for 16 years as the maintenance man at the apartment complex where he lived until he moved, just before his death, into a rental house on Lester Street in Binghampton.

52. Patterson Warehouses Adds Space - Friday, March 08, 2013

Patterson Warehouses Inc. is boosting its longtime local presence with a new lease in DeSoto County.

The renowned player in Memphis’ third-party logistics industry is leasing 237,952 square feet of Class A space in Marathon Distribution Center, 295 Marathon Way in Southaven.

53. Good Manners and Innovation - Wednesday, March 06, 2013

Brainstorming sessions can easily devolve into a contest of strong egos or a parade of old, tired ideas and their accompanying resentments. Worse, meetings around ideation or innovation sour when there is lack of good manners.

54. Commercial Professionals Achieve Designations - Tuesday, March 05, 2013

Eleven members of local professional organizations in commercial real estate reached elite status in 2012 in their respective fields, which include the Memphis metro area’s appraisers, commercial brokers and property managers.

55. Sales Tax Hike Headed to Ballot - Tuesday, March 05, 2013

Memphis City Council members take final votes Tuesday, March 5, on a half-percent city sales tax hike referendum and the use of the estimated $47 million in revenue the tax hike will produce.

The council, which meets at 3:30 p.m. at City Hall, 125 N. Main St., is expected to pass the referendum and send it to voters this year.

56. Shift From Monologue to Dialogue - Wednesday, February 27, 2013

For more than a decade, companies have slowly shifted their focus to fit an era of deep consumer engagement. They have begun to embrace social media management, and they are better integrating print and TV campaigns with their online and social media presence. Unfortunately, it’s not enough.

57. Kroc Center Opens to Big Crowds - Wednesday, February 27, 2013

To cap off Healthy Heart Month, the new 100,000-square-foot Kroc Center held its open house and ribbon-cutting ceremony last weekend.

The state-of-the-art Salvation Army Ray and Joan Kroc Corps Community Center has welcomed more than 10,000 visitors in its first few days.

58. 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

59. Hand Family Files Loan on Local Properties - Tuesday, February 19, 2013

45 W. E.H. Crump Blvd.
Memphis, TN 38106
Loan Amount: $3.2 million

Loan Date: Feb. 4, 2013
Maturity Date: N/A
Borrower: The Hand Family Realty Co. LLC
Lender: JPMorgan Chase Bank NA
Details: The Hand Family Realty Co. LLC has filed a $3.2 million loan on its Memphis portfolio, including the Anheuser-Busch distribution facility at 45 W. E.H. Crump Blvd. south of Downtown.

60. Owner of Germantown Medical Office Files $9.4 Million Loan - Monday, February 18, 2013

The owner of the 13,458-square-foot medical office at 1310 Wolf Park Drive in Germantown has filed a $9.4 million loan on the property.

61. Let’s Make Public Notices Available to Everyone - Friday, February 15, 2013

The issue of whether local governments should post public notices on their own internet website is a question that was discussed more than once in the Senate State and Local Government Committee during the 107th General Assembly.

62. Owner Files $1.4 Million Loan on U.S. 64 Retail Center - Thursday, February 14, 2013

FairCo 64 LLC has filed a $1.4 million deed of trust through INSOUTH Bank for its strip retail center at 7601 U.S. 64 in Northeast Memphis.

63. Soul Fish to Open in Wolf Camera Spot on Poplar - Wednesday, February 13, 2013

Soul Fish Café has selected a prime piece of real estate in East Memphis for its third location.

The catfish and Southern-inspired restaurant has signed a lease for the old Wolf Camera space in the Poplar Avenue/Perkins Road corridor. The 3,100-square-foot freestanding building at 4720 Poplar Ave. will mark Soul Fish’s third location in Memphis, behind its original spot in Midtown’s Cooper-Young district and its Germantown location near Forest Hill-Irene Road.

64. Soul Fish to Open in Old Wolf Camera at Poplar and Perkins - Tuesday, February 12, 2013

Soul Fish Café has selected a prime piece of real estate in East Memphis for its third location.

The catfish and Southern-inspired restaurant has signed a lease for the old Wolf Camera space in the Poplar Avenue/Perkins Road corridor. The 3,100-square-foot freestanding building at 4720 Poplar Ave. will mark Soul Fish’s third location in Memphis, behind its original spot in Midtown’s Cooper-Young district and its Germantown store near Forest Hill-Irene Road.

65. Alt.Consulting Provides Businesses Help With a Little Quality Time - Monday, February 11, 2013

New businesses are beginning to blossom as the post-recession economy recovers, but some may fall victim to their own lack of business experience.

The nonprofit economic development organization alt.Consulting hopes to prevent businesses from making common mistakes by spending some quality time with them.

66. MAA’s Net Income Rises in Fourth Quarter - Saturday, February 09, 2013

MAA reported a fourth quarter net income of $22.3 million, as compared to $18.8 million during the fourth quarter of 2011.

Net income results for the quarter ended Dec. 31 for the Memphis-based, apartment-only Real Estate Investment Trust included $3.2 million related to gains on the sale of one apartment community, while net income results for the quarter ended Dec. 31, 2011, included $7.9 million related to gains on the sale of one apartment community.

67. MAA’s Net Income Rises in Fourth Quarter - Friday, February 08, 2013

MAA reported a fourth quarter net income of $22.3 million, as compared to $18.8 million during the fourth quarter of 2011.

Net income results for the quarter ended Dec. 31 for the Memphis-based, apartment-only Real Estate Investment Trust included $3.2 million related to gains on the sale of one apartment community, while net income results for the quarter ended Dec. 31, 2011, included $7.9 million related to gains on the sale of one apartment community.

68. Businesses, Schools to Participate in Citywide Weight Loss Challenge - Wednesday, February 06, 2013

Memphis businesses, school systems and individuals are gearing up to participate in the HealthyWage $10,000 Team Weight Loss Challenge, a citywide three-month weight-loss contest beginning Feb. 22 that will reward three top-performing Memphis teams with a total of $18,000.

69. Filling the Voids - Saturday, February 02, 2013

Last year was a banner year for adaptive reuse projects in Midtown and Downtown.

Developers announced plans for the Sears Crosstown building, Overton Square, Hotel Chisca, James Lee House and old United Warehouse in the South Main Historic Arts District. Construction began on The Pyramid, turning it into a 220,000-square-foot mega-Bass Pro Shop Outdoor World, and Memphis in May moved into its new headquarters at 56 S. Front St., a 14,600-square-foot building that’s on the National Register of Historic Places.

70. Quince Fred’s Super Dollar Sells for $2.1 Million - Tuesday, January 29, 2013

6500 Quince Road, Memphis, TN 38119

Sale Amount: $2.1 million

Sale Date: Jan. 18, 2013

71. Chism Hardy Moves Deeper Into Logistics - Monday, January 28, 2013

The certified public accountant who bought the old Coors Belle brewery in Hickory Hill seven years ago and turned it into Hardy Bottling Co. has taken the supply chain lessons from the business into the logistics industry.

72. Centennial on Tap for Traffic Club of Memphis - Monday, January 28, 2013

The Traffic Club of Memphis is kick-starting its 100-year celebration with the introduction of its 2013 officers, led for the second straight year by president Mason Wilson.

The club’s activities this year will feature a series of local events, including the Traffic Club International annual conference in September.

73. School Ethics Committee Begins Work - Friday, January 25, 2013

Three countywide school board members on Wednesday, Jan. 23, began the first ethics probe of another board member that anyone with either school system can remember.

School board member Martavius Jones made a formal complaint in December that fellow member David Pickler violated the board’s code of ethics by not disclosing his personal interest in school board business. He also called for Pickler to resign.

74. City, Bass Pro File Permits for Pyramid Renovations - Monday, January 21, 2013

1 A.W. Willis Memphis, TN 38105

Permit Costs: $21.5 million; $7 million

Project Cost: TBA

Permit Date: Applied January 2013

Completion: TBA

Owner: City of Memphis

75. Council to Discuss Pyramid Development - Monday, January 21, 2013

Memphis City Council members vote Tuesday, Jan. 22, on the “Memphis Pyramid Planned Development” – the formal name for the conversion of The Pyramid to a Bass Pro Shops store with other attractions including a hotel.

76. ‘Stable’ Foreclosures - Thursday, January 17, 2013

The Crowne Plaza Hotel at 300 N. Second St. sits on a little less than two acres near Interstate 40. The Shelby County Assessor of Property’s 2012 appraisal for the 11-story, 244-room hotel was $6.6 million.

77. Online Reputation Could be Killing Business - Wednesday, January 16, 2013

A whopping 70 percent of consumers globally report trusting online reviews from strangers when making purchase decisions, according to Nielsen’s most recent Global Trust in Advertising study. In fact, four out of five consumers say they reverse their purchase decisions based on negative online reviews, according to a Cone study of online trends.

78. Firebirds Wood Fired Grill in Bartlett Sells for $2.1 Million - Tuesday, January 15, 2013

An affiliate of Scottsdale, Ariz.-based STORE Capital has paid $2.1 million for the Firebirds Wood Fired Grill at 8470 U.S. (Highway) 64 in Bartlett.

The entity, STORE Master Funding II LLC, bought the 7,168-square-foot restaurant in a Dec. 28 special warranty deed from DMLD Building Group LLC of Charlotte, N.C.

79. Conrad, Flinn Pitch Cost-Saving Measures for City - Tuesday, January 15, 2013

Memphis City Council member Kemp Conrad wants to explore selling city assets, including Memphis Light, Gas and Water Division, and using the proceeds to establish a trust fund for early childhood education and other “wrap around” social services.

80. Mortgage Gains Point to Solid 2013 - Tuesday, January 15, 2013

Shelby County’s mortgage market made decent strides during the past 12 months, posting gains over 2011 and foreshadowing a healthy 2013.

Banks and mortgage lenders made 8,028 purchase mortgages in Shelby County during 2012, a 17 percent improvement from the 6,862 mortgages during 2011, according to the latest data from real estate information company Chandler Reports, www.chandlerreports.com.

81. Public Relations Society Honors Duncan Williams - Monday, January 14, 2013

After Duncan Williams got handed his “communicator of the year” award at this month’s Memphis chapter of the Public Relations Society of America luncheon, he did something in keeping with the nature of the honor.

82. Diversified Trust Hires Associate Counsel - Thursday, January 10, 2013

In the financial services world, the compliance work overseen by legal counsel has grown in prominence and importance.

Banks and investment firms have been dealt a slew of new regulations – so much so that some small banks in Memphis and beyond say they’re now at the limit of the compliance costs they’re able to pay for. For other firms, expanding the company infrastructure to include new compliance and legal capabilities is a natural byproduct of business growth and staff additions.

83. Argent Financial, Highland Capital Merging - Wednesday, January 09, 2013

Memphis-based Highland Capital Management LLC and Louisiana-based Argent Financial Group, which entered the Memphis market a few years ago, are merging.

84. City Sales Tax Hike Proposal Resurfaces - Wednesday, January 09, 2013

Two months after voters – most of them Memphians – rejected a countywide sales tax hike, there is a new proposal for a citywide sales tax hike to go on the ballot later this year in a special election.

85. White House, GOP Draw Red Lines in Debt Debate - Tuesday, January 08, 2013

WASHINGTON (AP) – Struggling for the upper hand in the next round of debt talks, Republicans and Democrats this weekend drew lines in the sand they said they'd never cross when it comes to the U.S. debt limit.

86. Banks Showcase Artwork, Local Artists - Monday, January 07, 2013

Since December, Paragon National Bank has been showcasing art pieces from Dogwood Elementary School students at its Saddle Creek bank branch at 7600 Poplar Ave.

87. Countdown to Reform - Saturday, January 05, 2013

The Obama administration recently took the next step in implementing the new health care reform by laying out more specific guidelines regarding the health insurance market reforms. The Department of Health and Human Services published the new regulations on Nov. 20.

88. Exeter Buys West Memphis Warehouse for $15.6 Million - Friday, January 04, 2013

Pennsylvania-based Exeter Property Group has snatched up the Smucker’s distribution warehouse in West Memphis for $15.6 million.

The 600,000-square-foot facility was a foreclosed property from Bank of America, which was selling it with a year-end anticipated closing, said Matt Brodnik, Exeter’s director of capital markets.

89. Avoid These Seven Deadly Sales Sins - Thursday, January 03, 2013

Whether you call it sales, business development or fundraising, bringing in new customers or donors is essential to your organization’s growth. After all, “nothing happens until a sale is made,” as the late founder of IBM, Thomas Watson, so prolifically stated.

90. Changing Market - Wednesday, January 02, 2013

Much of 2012’s commercial real estate deals could be summed up in one of three phrases: speculative construction, institutional buyers and unusual transactions.

The first quarter was kicked off when Industrial Developments International Inc. revealed plans to add one build-to-suit and two speculative buildings in its Crossroads Distribution Center in Olive Branch – marking the area’s first spec construction since 2008.

91. Overcoming Addictions - Monday, December 31, 2012

Last week we highlighted Juvenile Intervention & Faith-based Follow-up (JIFF), which is working with youth from in and around the juvenile justice system to equip them with the skills and support necessary to break the destructive cycle of criminal behavior. Drawing from another side of crime prevention, related to helping adolescents and adults fight drug and alcohol addiction, this week let us explore Memphis Recovery Centers.

92. Southwind Homewood Suites Sells for $6.5 Million - Monday, December 31, 2012

3583 Hacks Cross Road Memphis, TN 38125

Sale Amount: $6.5 million

Sale Date: Nov. 2, 2012

93. Despite Stats, Some Aren’t Worthy of Cooperstown - Friday, December 28, 2012

The rules state that you have to be a member of the Baseball Writers Association of America (BBWAA) for 10 years before you are granted the privilege of voting for the Baseball Hall of Fame.

I could hardly wait.

94. Get More Out of Your Corporate Retreat - Thursday, December 27, 2012

Have you ever asked yourself why you are taking a corporate retreat? Is it because the company has always had one and it is just an event on autopilot? Is it intended to reinforce the company line? What do you as a leader really get out of it? What does everyone else get out of it? If it is designed to be a “morale builder” and a session to “build consensus” you may be wasting your time and money. There is nothing worse for morale than having a lockdown then hotboxing people who work over 50 hour weeks. These people likely feel that they are getting behind on their work treadmill and worse, they resent the time away from home and family.

95. Milwaukee Electric Tool Building Bought by Monmouth for $28 Million - Wednesday, December 26, 2012

Freehold, N.J.-based Monmouth Real Estate Investment Corp. has acquired the Milwaukee Electric Tool Corp. building at 12385 Crossroads Drive in Olive Branch for $28 million.

96. Texas Company Files Loan on Highland Family Dollar - Monday, December 24, 2012

Texas-based DCTN3 328 Highland Memphis TN LLC has filed a $1.1 million loan through Paragon National Bank on its Family Dollar store at 656 S. Highland St.

97. Roberts Benchmark Hotel on Union Sells for $3.2 Million - Monday, December 24, 2012

164 Union Ave.

Memphis, TN 38103

Sale Amount: $3.2 million

Sale Date: Dec. 5, 2012

98. Midtown Momentum - Saturday, December 22, 2012

The Midtown real estate market has long been an anomaly compared to its Bluff City counterparts, with fundamentals as diverse as its demographics.

“The types of real estate that you’ll find in Midtown can be some of the most expensive or some of the most modest when it comes to prices and facility,” said Gary Myers of Gary Myers Co. “Retail in particular.”

99. Consider a Revocable Living Trust - Thursday, December 20, 2012

Ray’s Take The main advantage touted for having a Revocable Living Trust (RLT) is to avoid probate, but its strengths go far beyond that.

An RLT is a legal document created by an individual to hold all or part of his or her assets. Typically the owner of these assets is also the Trustee, retaining complete control over how these assets are handled and along with the having ability to make changes to the Trust as needed. Trust directives can even extend beyond the grave.

100. These are Taxing Times - Tuesday, December 18, 2012

I find it very curious that the fiscal cliff was not a topic of any of the presidential debates of 2012. It was not mentioned by the candidates or the moderators. Yet within a week of the election results, it seems as though everyone has heard of the looming fiscal cliff and the black hole that lies beneath it. Ignorance may be bliss, but the unknown can be downright scary. Right now, most of us are staring into the black hole and wondering how this country will address the growing national deficit and in particular, how inevitable changes in tax policy and accounting rules will affect us in 2013 and beyond.