Bob Smith’s testimony was a good part of the first day of the nonjury trial that began Monday before Memphis Federal Court Judge Jon McCalla on police surveillance of protesters. Smith was the alias used by Police Sgt. Tim Reynolds – Reynolds acknowledged during his testimony Monday Downtown. The identity was also used by several other officers.

2. Central BBQ Opens in East Memphis at Former Lyfe Kitchen - Monday, August 20, 2018

Central BBQ, the first for the Kemmons Wilson Companies, opened Saturday in the former Lyfe Kitchen at 6201 Poplar Avenue. In early 2017, Central BBQ owners Roger Sapp and Craig Blondis sold the rights to future restaurants to KWC, but are still involved.

3. NIH Ends Alcohol Study, Citing Funding, Credibility Problems - Monday, June 18, 2018

WASHINGTON (AP) – The U.S. government is shutting down a study that was supposed to show if a single drink a day could prevent heart attacks, saying ethical problems with how the research was planned and funded undermine its credibility.

4. Corky’s BBQ Eyes Southeast Expansion Under New Partnership - Thursday, June 14, 2018

More and more people across the Southeast will be getting the chance to enjoy Memphis-style barbecue thanks to a new partnership announced Friday between Corky’s BBQ and Dobbs Equity Partners LLC. The deal will help Corky’s to expand its corporate-owned brick-and-mortar footprint, with plans to open 15 additional stores over the next three years, as well as invest and expand the Corky’s food manufacturing and distribution operations.

5. Schowen Named Manager Of Baptist Ambulance - Wednesday, June 13, 2018

Greg Schowen has been named general manager of Baptist Ambulance, a member of the Priority Ambulance family of companies that currently serves 10 Baptist Memorial Health Care facilities with interfacility transport, as well as six communities with 911 response. Schowen brings 25 years of experience overseeing operations for emergency medical service providers in high-performance 911 service areas, including Los Angeles County, California, and Las Vegas, Nevada.

6. Bid Farewell to Trial-and-Error Marketing - Wednesday, May 9, 2018

The average company spends 3 to 5 percent of revenue on marketing, which is certainly not a trivial expense. Why, then, do so many companies invest so little time in the construction of the marketing plan that ensures that investment is well-spent?

7. Repeatable Sales = Scalable Growth - Wednesday, May 2, 2018

For many business-to-business (B2B) companies, the ability to grow correlates directly with the ability to effectively expand the sales team.

If each member of your team has his own approach to selling your company’s products and services, replicating success and scaling your company can be difficult. In contrast, if all members of the sales team follow a proven, predictable sales process – with appropriate allowances for individual selling styles – it’s much easier to scale your sales team more quickly, efficiently and successfully.

8. Aggressively Grow Email Subscribers - Wednesday, March 28, 2018

One of the most cost-effective strategies for driving web traffic and generating online leads is email marketing. Unfortunately, most small and mid-sized companies have an email database filled mostly of current clients, business partners and other friends of the firm. To put a fire under your email marketing and dramatically boost results, follow these five steps for growing your email database.

9. Medical Marijuana Legislation Moves Ahead - Thursday, March 1, 2018

NASHVILLE – Bolstered by House Speaker Beth Harwell’s tie-breaking vote, Rep. Jeremy Faison’s medical marijuana legislation took an important step Tuesday, Feb. 27, in the General Assembly.

10. The Day After - Tuesday, February 6, 2018

There is perhaps no greater scrutiny that a brand faces than during the biggest U.S. sporting event of the year. Courageous brands bet big that their ad will win hearts and minds, but alas, only 36 percent of Super Bowl ads earned favorable ratings from our team of advertising professionals, likely making for some uncomfortable ad execs on the hot seat Monday morning.

11. Top 10 2018 Marketing Trends, Part 2 - Wednesday, January 24, 2018

Editor’s Note: This is the second in a two-part series. As a small or mid-sized company CEO, time is likely not a luxury with which you’re familiar. Staying abreast of evolving marketing technology can seem impossible in light of all of your competing priorities. That’s why this year’s top 10 marketing trends for the new year are tailor-made for companies of your size – strategies which can be practically applied in 2018 on a small to mid-sized company budget.

12. Top 10 2018 Marketing Trends, Part 1 - Wednesday, January 17, 2018

Editor’s Note: This is the first in a two-part series. The field of marketing is evolving at an unprecedented rate. If you simply don’t have the time to dig in – which is reality for many a small and mid-sized company CEO with limited internal marketing resources – it can feel like a runaway train. 

13. Black Theater Museum Plan Gets Good Reviews at City Hall - Thursday, December 21, 2017

For about five months, Hattiloo Theatre founder Ekundayo Bandele had been working on the idea he proposed Tuesday, Dec. 19, to establish the National Black Theater Museum inside the Memphis Brooks Museum of Art building in Overton Park.

14. Possible Trader Joe’s Update, New $35M Airport Facility - Monday, December 18, 2017

In this week’s Real Estate Recap, a new development in the saga of Germantown’s Trader Joe’s, Memphis International Airport begins work on a new $35 million facility, and Central BBQ announces a new a location...

15. Wiping Slate Clean: Now Less About Who Can Afford It - Wednesday, November 22, 2017

The scales of justice in Tennessee are slowly tipping back toward the poor – and not so poor – helping them regain traction lost to often-minor transgressions.

Change is taking place in court battles and in the Republican-controlled Legislature, believe it or not.

16. Chamber Chairman’s Circle Expands Leadership - Saturday, November 18, 2017

As the Greater Memphis Chamber’s Chairman’s Circle continues to grow, its founding members have decided to restructure its leadership.

Original co-chairs Gary Shorb, Richard Smith, Calvin Anderson, Carolyn Hardy, Spence Wilson Jr., Duncan Williams, Leigh Shockey and Jason Hood voted to install a new leadership structure that will include addition of a chairman, vice chairman and new co-chairs.

17. Electric Utilities Ask Higher Rates on Mississippi Customers - Friday, November 17, 2017

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) – Mississippi's two privately owned electric utilities are asking regulators to make customers pay more next year.

Entergy Mississippi's request would boost rates for a yardstick residential customer from $104 a month to $114 a month, beginning in February, to pay for fuel costs.

18. Chamber Chairman’s Circle Expands Leadership - Thursday, November 16, 2017

As the Greater Memphis Chamber’s Chairman’s Circle continues to grow, its founding members have decided to restructure its leadership.

Original co-chairs Gary Shorb, Richard Smith, Calvin Anderson, Carolyn Hardy, Spence Wilson Jr., Duncan Williams, Leigh Shockey and Jason Hood voted to install a new leadership structure that will include addition of a chairman, vice chairman and new co-chairs.

19. The Power Of Saying No - Wednesday, November 8, 2017

When your business is young, you naturally welcome every new customer with open arms in an effort to generate cash flow and get on your feet. Too many business owners have trouble breaking that pattern, however, even after their business is more established, with the “say yes to everything” mentality trickling down to the front-line sales team. This can ultimately be a death sentence to a business.

20. Indie Memphis Film Fest Goes All Out For 20th Anniversary - Saturday, November 4, 2017

Indie Memphis Film Festival’s 20th run this week has seen a record number of guests and more than 100 filmmakers from around the world descending on the Bluff City.

The festival that seems to get more popular every year continues will a full day of screenings Saturday, Nov. 4, and continues through Monday night, Nov. 6, when a free reception will be held at the Halloran Centre Downtown.

21. Goodin Joins Hagwood Adelman As Memphis Managing Attorney - Wednesday, November 1, 2017

Michael T. Goodin has joined Hagwood Adelman Tipton PC as managing attorney of the Memphis office. In that role, he provides legal services to HAT’s clients in matters such as medical malpractice and senior housing litigation for health care providers along the continuum of care, including skilled nursing, assisted living, behavioral health, home health and hospice litigation. In addition, he assists in supervising the attorney and paraprofessional teams.

22. Avoid These Top Sales Excuses - Wednesday, October 18, 2017

Sales greats have the ability to adapt based on their audience, are able to embrace rejection as an express pass to their next “yes” and generally have a high degree of emotional intelligence. But even veteran sales pros can fall into the trappings of excuse making as a way to cope with sales hurdles. 

23. Google Spikes Free-Article Requirements on Publishers - Tuesday, October 3, 2017

NEW YORK (AP) – Google is ending a decade-old policy that required publishers to provide some free stories to Google users –though it's not clear how many readers will even notice, at least for the moment.

24. Taylor Joins JA As VP of Development - Wednesday, September 27, 2017

Latoria Taylor has been named vice president of development for Junior Achievement of Memphis and the Mid-South. She oversees all fundraising and marketing efforts for the nonprofit, which is dedicated to teaching children “how business works” and inspiring them to own their economic success.

25. Widening The Path - Saturday, September 23, 2017

He asked to only be a small part of this story. But when you come up with an idea so good, so powerful, that it’s named as one of the top 20 ideas in the Forbes Change the World Competition, you are the story’s foundation.

26. ICCC Program Attracts Local Business Owners - Thursday, August 31, 2017

More than 100 local entrepreneurs received mentoring and coaching on Tuesday, Aug. 29, to help them grow their small businesses. The Inner City Capital Connections program at the FedEx Institute of Technology on the University of Memphis campus returned after first coming to Memphis in August 2014.

27. Inner City Capital Connections Program Attracts Local Business Owners - Wednesday, August 30, 2017

More than 100 local entrepreneurs received mentoring and coaching on Tuesday, Aug. 29, to help them grow their small businesses.

The Inner City Capital Connections program at the FedEx Institute of Technology on the University of Memphis campus returned after first coming to Memphis in August 2014. The ICCC program was developed by the Initiative for a Competitive Inner City (ICIC), a nonprofit research and strategy organization.

28. Ignite Your Website’s SEO - Wednesday, August 30, 2017

You have likely invested, to some degree, in search engine optimization – or SEO – to improve how prospective customers find you via an internet search. Unfortunately, few companies continue to invest in this vital strategy.

29. Regions, FedEx Backing Business Seminar - Monday, August 28, 2017

Regions Bank is joining FedEx Corp. to provide financial backing for a seminar for business owners this week that will include 20 Regions bankers providing customized business coaching for entrepreneurs.

30. Complacency is the No. 1 Business Killer - Wednesday, July 19, 2017

While the actual activities take on different forms, at the end of the day, I’ve come to the realization that I’m a change agent for companies dissatisfied with their current sales and marketing outcomes. I was taken back years ago by the clarity offered from an area CEO in this statement: “We can’t expect a different outcome if we aren’t willing to change what we’re doing.”

31. After Warmbier's Death, US Weighs Travel Ban on North Korea - Wednesday, June 21, 2017

WASHINGTON (AP) – The Trump administration is considering banning travel by U.S. citizens to North Korea, officials said Tuesday, as outrage grew over the death of American student Otto Warmbier and President Donald Trump declared it a "total disgrace."

32. Last Word: Food Changes, Tax Breaks and 'The Big Bang' - Thursday, May 18, 2017

Late hours in Washington for another night Wednesday with word of the appointment of former FBI director Robert Mueller as special prosecutor in the Trump-Russia investigation. Here is all of the reaction we had as of late Wednesday from our folks in D.C.

33. Port Alliance Sponsoring Chamber Council, Series - Saturday, May 13, 2017

Port Alliance/H.Saga International, a member of the Greater Memphis Chamber, has become the title sponsor of the chamber’s Small Business Council and title sponsor for a new chamber leadership series called Listen, Learn & Lead.

34. Port Alliance Sponsoring Chamber Council, New Series - Wednesday, May 10, 2017

Port Alliance/H.Saga International, a member of the Greater Memphis Chamber, has become the title sponsor of the chamber’s Small Business Council and title sponsor for a new chamber leadership series called Listen, Learn & Lead.

35. Memphis Business Academy Showcases Project Lead The Way STEM Progress - Thursday, April 20, 2017

The Memphis Business Academy is flexing its STEM muscles.

The K-12 charter school in Frayser hosted a showcase event this month to demonstrate how it has implemented Project Lead The Way (PLTW) curriculum the past year and the overwhelmingly positive effect it is having on students of all ages.

36. Hitting the Ceiling - Wednesday, April 19, 2017

Nearly every growing company faces a phenomenon – at multiple points in its growth trajectory – where the leadership team feels stuck, growth stalls or halts, and everything starts to feel complex. The strategies of the past that served them so well are no longer working. Revenue has plateaued and frustration is creeping into the organization.

37. Responding to Bad Reviews - Wednesday, April 5, 2017

It’s a catch-22 type of situation. You need to put your business out there in this age of social media, but in doing so, you open yourself up to criticism, bad reviews and the like.

Despite the risks, social media is a marketing tactic that is a must for most companies. If you aren’t out there, your competitors are, and that is riskier than the possibility of a bad review. Knowing you won’t please all of the people all of the time, understand that an occasional bad review will happen. Knowing what to do next is key.

38. Last Word: Mike Rose, Bartlett High Options and Memphis-Nashville Talk - Monday, April 3, 2017

Mike Rose transformed Memphis-made Holiday Inn from a single brand to multiple brands and a corporation that transformed the hospitality industry as casino gaming spread beyond Las Vegas and Atlantic City in the 1990s. During his time at the helm of Holiday Inns and Promus Companies, Rose was also one of the city's most influential corporate leaders with the money and ability to raise money and set terms that made possible the transformation of St. Jude into a research institution and pointed the University of Memphis in that direction as well. Rose died Sunday in Nashville of cancer.

39. Lawmakers Blast Haslam Administration for Process Toward JLL Contract - Thursday, March 30, 2017

The Tennessee Department of General Services is set to award a statewide contract for facility management services to Jones Lang LaSalle, a company that already handles 10 percent of state office space and estimates a 15.9 percent savings if all higher education institutes participate.

40. PR is Your Fire Department - Wednesday, March 29, 2017

Public relations departments are like fire departments. PR folks would much rather prevent your organizational fire than put it out. So, why is it that PR is almost always brought in after a crisis occurs? It’s simple. Many executives only see PR playing a role in generating earned media or planning events. While it involves that, it’s so much more.

41. Corker To Keynote Dunavant Awards - Wednesday, March 22, 2017

U.S. Sen. Bob Corker will be the keynote speaker at the Rotary Club of Memphis East’s annual Dunavant Public Servant Awards.

Co-sponsored by The Daily News, the awards luncheon is 11:30 a.m., April 18, at the Memphis Hilton, 939 Ridge Lake Blvd.

42. Winners Are Adopting Change - Wednesday, March 8, 2017

As I reflect over the companies large and small that I have had the privilege to partner with over the past decade, there is a theme across those who have consistently improved and grown. That common thread is a culture of receptivity to change that permeates from senior-most leadership to the front line. 

43. The Art and Science Of E-Commerce Sales - Wednesday, March 1, 2017

The secret to inspiring visitors to purchase from your e-commerce platform is equal parts art and science.

The science is your technology – how the e-commerce platform functions. Continuous improvements in functionality on your site are necessary to meet the growing demands of consumers.

44. Collierville Insurance Merging With Henry & Co. - Saturday, February 11, 2017

Two of West Tennessee’s oldest insurance agencies – Henry & Co. Insurance, an affiliate of The Bank of Fayette County, and Collierville Insurance Agency – are merging.

45. Henry & Co., Collierville Insurance to Merge - Wednesday, February 8, 2017

Two of West Tennessee’s oldest insurance agencies – Henry & Co. Insurance, an affiliate of The Bank of Fayette County, and Collierville Insurance Agency – are merging.

46. Analysis: Some Super Bowl Ads Score, Others Fumble - Tuesday, February 7, 2017

There is no greater scrutiny that a brand faces for its marketing prowess than during the biggest U.S. sporting event of the year. Courageous brands bet big that their ad would win hearts and minds among consumers, but alas, only 40 percent of Super Bowl ads earned favorable ratings from our team of advertising professionals.

47. View From the Hill: Cooperatives Ready to Fill Broadband Void - Thursday, January 19, 2017

Rural broadband backers such as Misty O’Beirne in Rutherford County can take heart. Legislation to spread high-speed internet into cyberspace deserts is making the right connections.

48. Crafting the Right Launch - Wednesday, December 21, 2016

The launch of a new product is just about as important as the product itself. As good as the product may be, if the launch is lackluster, the product may sit on the shelf until it one day lands in a clearance bin. 

49. Last Word: TNReady Scores, Ikea Day and 901REnews - Wednesday, December 14, 2016

Snap goes the streak. Cavs over the Grizz in Cleveland Tuesday 103-86. The Cavs are here Wednesday without LeBron James, Kevin Love or Kyrie Irving. For the Grizz, we shall see about Deyonta Davis who came out of Tuesday’s game with a left foot injury.

50. Brand Dissonance Boosts Marketing Performance - Wednesday, December 14, 2016

The primary reason that most advertising fails is that the message sounds remarkably similar to most competitors in the marketplace. With all the advertising noise competing for consumer attention these days, it’s becoming increasingly challenging for the market to differentiate one brand from another. This translates to a waste of precious advertising dollars. It’s the equivalent of flushing your marketing budget down the drain.

51. Outsourcing: Savings, But No Specifics - Thursday, December 8, 2016

The Haslam administration is forging ahead with plans to nab a statewide facilities services contractor after an outside analysis backed up a study showing estimated cost savings of more than $35 million a year at Tennessee universities.

52. Wilson & Associates Earns Excellence Award - Saturday, October 22, 2016

Wilson & Associates PLLC, a law firm with offices in Arkansas and Tennessee, has been recognized as a 2016 USFN Diamond Award of Excellence recipient. The firm has been recognized annually since the award was initiated in 1993.

53. Wilson & Associates Earns USFN Excellence Award - Tuesday, October 18, 2016

Wilson & Associates PLLC, a law firm with offices in Arkansas and Tennessee, has been recognized as a 2016 USFN Diamond Award of Excellence recipient. The firm has been recognized annually since the award was initiated in 1993.

54. 7 Irrefutable Laws of Social-Media Marketing - Wednesday, September 28, 2016

Seemingly every brand has a presence on at least one social platform these days. Very few, however, are successfully converting that resource investment into engaged, loyal customers. What’s the secret of those realizing customer conversion? They are following these laws of social-media marketing.

55. Can Alan Zucker Do for Titans’ Marcus Mariota What He’s Done for Mannings & Taylor Swift? - Friday, August 19, 2016

As an NFL quarterback, Sunday is show time for Marcus Mariota. That’s when he suits up and does everything in his power to help the Tennessee Titans win football games.

But a recent Sunday morning was a different kind of show time. Mariota spent four hours on the opposite side of the Cumberland River from Nissan Stadium on a commercial shoot. A camera crew captured footage of him jogging in downtown Nashville and posing in front of various landmarks.

56. What Would It Take for Trump to Lose Tennessee Voters? - Thursday, August 11, 2016

Murfreesboro Realtor Larry Sims almost closes his ears when Donald Trump speaks.

“He gets out of bounds. Of course, the press, they love it because they get to exploit his sayings and doings,” says Sims, who traveled to Cleveland, Ohio, as a Trump delegate for the Republican National Convention. 

57. Bridge Builders Creating Leaders One Cohort at a Time - Wednesday, July 6, 2016

In the High Adventure Hall in the Bridges Center on North Fifth Street, more than 150 seventh- and eighth-graders, organized in groups designated by team-colored T-shirts, are collectively and enthusiastically practicing the Bridge Builders pledge:

58. Evolution of Memphis’ Startup Ecosystem - Wednesday, June 22, 2016

In 2014, Start Co. partnered with Jumpstart America, a venture development organization from Cleveland, Ohio, that has created a decades-long legacy of entrepreneurship in communities like ours.

59. The Memphis CEO Challenge - Wednesday, June 15, 2016

We have all heard the sentiment that successful CEOs must spend sufficient time focused “on the business,” not just operating “in the business.” As CEOs, we often get so far into the weeds of operating our respective businesses that we rarely take a concerted step back to think strategically about the direction of our companies.

60. A Lesson From Oprah - Wednesday, May 25, 2016

The service industry just isn’t what it used to be. Mediocre is the norm, and attention to detail seems all but lost in this fast-paced world. That’s why companies that actually deliver on what they say they will, when they say they will, stand a breed apart.

61. Poplar Place Apartments Sell for $15.3 Million - Thursday, May 19, 2016

1669 Randolph Place
Memphis, TN 38120

Sale Amount: $15.3 million

Sale Date: May 6

Buyer: Poplar Place TN Townhomes LLC

62. Rise of the Subscription Economy - Wednesday, May 18, 2016

Today, you can buy almost anything on subscription, including dog toys from BarkBox, razors from Dollar Shave Club, streaming video content from Netflix, music from Spotify, beauty samples from Birchbox, ready-to-make meals from Blue Apron and even rental cars from Zipcars.

63. Land Sold for Kroger-Anchored Arlington Strip - Monday, May 16, 2016

Arlington’s upcoming shopping center at the southwest corner of Airline Road and Milton Wilson Boulevard is moving forward.

On May 6, Shop Development Co., acting as Arlington TN Ventures LP, purchased a 22.8-acre parcel. John Hyneman sold the vacant land for $3.6 million.

64. Trust Creates Sales Advantage - Wednesday, May 11, 2016

I find myself inspired today by a book, recommended by a colleague, called The Speed of Trust by Stephen M. R. Covey. You are probably familiar with Covey’s father, who wrote The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People.

65. Norris Recounts Path to Majority Status, Dunavant Award - Wednesday, May 4, 2016

Good government isn’t a bowl of cherries. There will be controversy even with the best of intentions and with everything done by the numbers. And that applies to those who win awards like state Senate Majority Leader Mark Norris of Collierville.

66. Norris, Geater Named Dunavant Award Recipients - Saturday, April 30, 2016

Tennessee State Senate Republican Leader Mark Norris of Collierville and Lisa Geater, chief of staff to Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland, are the recipients of the annual Bobby Dunavant Public Servant Awards to be presented in May by the Rotary Club of Memphis East.

67. Last Word: Pro Day, Hardwood Patios in C-Y and Memphis' Contested Convention - Thursday, April 7, 2016

It was a windy Pro Day Wednesday at the University of Memphis for Tigers quarterback Paxton Lynch. And if the wind wasn’t for you, you could watch Lynch work out for NFL teams and their representatives on the NFL network.
Don Wade was there to watch in person.

68. Spence Wilson To Keynote Dunavant Awards May 11 - Thursday, April 7, 2016

Spence Wilson, chairman of the board of Kemmons Wilson Companies, is the keynote speaker for the annual Bobby Dunavant Public Servant Awards to be held May 11 at the Holiday Inn University of Memphis.

69. Job-Seekers Return at Fastest Pace Since Before Recession - Monday, April 4, 2016

WASHINGTON (AP) – Americans are flooding back into the job market at the fastest pace since before the Great Recession, encouraged by steady hiring and some signs of higher pay.

The flow has halted, at least temporarily, one of the economy's more discouraging trends: the sharp decline in the percentage of people either working or looking for work. That figure fell last year to a four-decade low.

70. Statewide Demand Outstrips Supply of Qualified Workers - Saturday, April 2, 2016

Tennessee is surging as a major manufacturing state, bouncing back from the Great Recession by attracting billions of dollars in new investment and creating thousands of new – and often very high-paying – advanced manufacturing jobs.

71. Is Distraction Crushing Your Growth Potential? - Wednesday, March 30, 2016

Business owners, marketing professionals and sales professionals – those that carry perhaps the greatest responsibility for driving company growth – are collectively facing a potentially catastrophic time epidemic.

72. Dodging a Disaster With Volkswagen? - Saturday, March 26, 2016

Next month will mark five years since the first Passat rolled off the assembly line at Chattanooga’s Volkswagen plant. Most anniversaries are a cause for celebration.

But as Chattanoogans blow out the candles on this particular milestone they’ll be hoping that Volkswagen’s diesel emissions troubles will soon be extinguished, too, and that the new SUV model they’ll start producing this year will help VW emerge from the crisis a better and stronger company than before.

73. Dyer Farmer John Butler to Lead Agricenter - Wednesday, March 16, 2016

John R. Butler has been selected as the new president of Agricenter International, officially beginning his position on July 1 of this year. Butler, a fifth-generation farmer who also held various management roles at Cargill, Inc., will succeed retiring president John Charles Wilson.

74. Stop Settling for Ordinary - Wednesday, March 16, 2016

We live in a world of stiff competition with so much noise competing for consumer attention that it can be painfully difficult for brands to get noticed and stand apart from their competition.

That’s why the lion’s share of brands simply settle for being ordinary. It’s just easier. As football coaching legend Lou Holtz said, “In this world you’re either growing or you’re dying, so get in motion and grow.”

75. Up, Up and Away - Saturday, March 12, 2016

The modern-day drone is both a high-tech military tool and a safer way to play humanitarian and deliver medicine and supplies to the suffering people of war-torn Syria.

The drone is everything from a stalking device to track poachers creeping through the South African bush hunting rhinos to the impetus for a potential commercial growth industry right here in Memphis.

76. Agricenter President Looks Back on 15-Year Tenure - Friday, March 4, 2016

Try putting yourself in John Charles Wilson’s dusty work boots for a moment. You’ve served as president of Agricenter International for more than 15 years. In less than six months, you will retire.

77. Bill Would Open Door for Utilities to Expand Broadband - Thursday, March 3, 2016

Legislation to expand broadband access across Tennessee is evolving – by necessity.

State Rep. Kevin Brooks’ bill HB1303 to allow public utilities to provide Internet service outside their footprint is alive, he says, but it is being “argued vehemently.”

78. The Tipping Point - Friday, February 26, 2016

At age 25, Kem Wilson had his whole life laid out for him. He had graduated from Furman with an undergraduate degree in business administration. Newly engaged, he had a promising job at a Memphis financial consulting firm. Now all he had to do was take his rightful place at the head of the family business.

79. Profit from a Growth Mindset - Wednesday, February 24, 2016

There can be many reasons that a company’s growth stalls – from competitive pressure to a rising cost of goods to the changing needs of the marketplace. The common thread among all of these challenges – and what’s really driving the stall – is the lack of a growth mindset among employees and leadership.

80. Agricenter President John Charles Wilson Retiring - Saturday, February 20, 2016

John Charles Wilson, president of Agricenter International, will be stepping down on July 1, 2016, after 15 years with the organization, but will continue on as a consultant on an as-needed basis.

The Agricenter board of directors has been actively looking at a field of candidates for his replacement.

81. Agricenter President John Charles Wilson Retiring - Friday, February 19, 2016

John Charles Wilson, president of Agricenter International, will be stepping down on July 1, 2016, after 15 years with the organization, but will continue on as a consultant on an as-needed basis.

The Agricenter board of directors has been actively looking at a field of candidates for his replacement.

82. Last Word: TN(not)Ready, Hatiloo Expands and Tax Season Advice - Tuesday, February 9, 2016

So what do you do when the test-makers fail the test?

You go back to the old test in the case of the Tennessee Education Department and the TNReady tests.
These were the new tests for the new statewide student achievement standards that replaced Common Core standards.
They can only be taken online.
But the system crashed Monday, which was the day that all of the preparation in the last year was geared toward. That included two tests locally of the on-line capacity and other technical standards necessary to make this go smoothly.
Here is a good account of what happened statewide and locally with a few other stops across the state to take in the scope of how big a failure this was and what failed.

83. Last Word: A Turn Away From Mud Island, Capitol Hill Soap & Collierville Keeps FedEx - Wednesday, January 27, 2016

Sometimes you get another story when you are pursuing a different story.

In this case, the quest was a simple one. Get a good basic idea of what the five companies interested in redeveloping Mud Island River Park are telling the Riverfront Development Corp. of their still-forming plans.
While going through the submissions, we had a talk with RDC president Benny Lendermon about the process and the interview moved pretty effortlessly into the Pyramid’s relationship to Mud Island.
It’s a natural follow-up given the history of past efforts to link up the two landmarks on different sides of the city harbor and the decidedly mixed results of those attempts. I might have been charitable there in describing the results as mixed.
That context led to a discussion about how the Pyramid is faring eight months into Bass Pro Shops' long-term lease in the reconfigured Pyramid.
When Lendermon said, “This probably isn’t a politically correct thing to say,” the interview turned topics and we followed it.
The result is, I think, at least something to consider and probably pretty provocative.
Judge for yourself.

84. The Death of ‘Digital’ Marketing - Wednesday, January 27, 2016

Editor’s Note: This column is the final in an 11-part series on the Top Ten 2016 Marketing Trends. Search memphisdailynews.com for the remainder of the series.

85. Impatient Clemmons Anxious for Minority Voice to Be Heard - Saturday, January 23, 2016

Democratic state Rep. John Ray Clemmons is only halfway through his first two-year term representing District 55 in Nashville. But he’s not willing to wait years to speak out or push for change.

86. Mobile Is Everything - Wednesday, January 13, 2016

Editor’s Note: This column is the ninth in an 11-part series on the Top Ten 2016 Marketing Trends. Check back for the remainder of the series and a deep dive into each of these trends.

87. Evaporcool Solutions Cools Off the Hot Air - Thursday, December 17, 2015

Evaporcool Solutions is doing its part for the environment from its home base in Memphis.

Founded in 2004, Evaporcool manufactures and sells energy efficient technology that is targeted for the commercial HVAC market across the U.S., with applicability around the world. Imagine a custom-built frame that is installed on the exterior of an air conditioning system.

88. Expand Sales Team Reach Without Headcount - Wednesday, December 9, 2015

This column is the fourth in an 11-part series on the Top Ten 2016 Marketing Trends. Check back for the remainder of the series and a deep dive into each of these trends.

There is perhaps no shorter path to increased sales than shortening the sales cycle or improving your close ratio with prospects already interested in your brand. Recent tech advancements offer marketers a host of marketing automation tools that can do this heavy lifting for you.

89. Curry Named President of Evaporcool - Wednesday, December 9, 2015

Chris Curry has been named president of Evaporcool Solutions LLC, a Memphis-based company whose proprietary Evaporcool System improves the energy efficiency of air conditioning and refrigeration units. In his new role, Curry will be responsible for leading all aspects of the company as it looks to aggressively expand its business.

90. Proximity Marketing Skyrockets - Wednesday, November 25, 2015

This column is the second in an 11-part series on the Top Ten 2016 Marketing Trends. Check back for the remainder of the series and a deep dive into each of these trends.

With 2016 just around the corner, it’s the right time to consider emerging marketing trends that could benefit your company’s growth strategy.

91. Editorial: EPIcenter Adds to Memphis’ Entrepreneurial Reality - Saturday, November 21, 2015

EPIcenter’s goal of 500 new companies in a decade is ambitious, even considering the $3.75 million in capital raised since last year for 50 new companies.

The idea of bringing the city’s collective startup community together with the goal of propelling Memphis’ economy forward is valuable. But it will require all those invested in the community to play nice, so to speak.

92. Ready for Launch - Saturday, November 21, 2015

Five hundred new companies in 10 years. That’s the idea that founded EPIcenter, short for Entrepreneurship-Powered Innovation Center, an organization looking to catalyze the entrepreneurial movement in Memphis.

93. Top Ten 2016 Marketing Trends - Wednesday, November 18, 2015

This column is the first in an 11-part series. Check back for the remainder of the series and a deep dive into each of these 10 trends.

As the new year draws closer, it’s an ideal time to reflect on this past year’s marketing strategies – those where you hit it out of the park, as well as those where you may have struck out. This honest self-reflection on historical performance is the key to continuous improvement and the development of a solid 2016 strategic marketing plan. Equally important is the ability to look ahead to marketing trends on the horizon that will or already are impacting your company’s growth.

94. Carriage Ride - Monday, August 3, 2015

Carriage Crossing is experiencing strong leasing activity and rising sales numbers as it prepares for multinational clothing retailer H&M to open its first Memphis-area location this month.

In recent months, the Collierville lifestyle center landed the H&M store, which the Swedish retailer says it plans to open Aug. 13, an Off Broadway Shoe Warehouse and a Hickory Tavern restaurant.

95. Predicting Sales & Marketing Plan Returns - Wednesday, June 17, 2015

Far too many companies look to past growth as the single best predictor of future growth in setting annual revenue targets with little analysis of the factors driving that past progress, anticipated market shifts over the coming year, and the predictability of the sales and marketing strategies built into their annual plan. It is a goal-setting process with a high likelihood for failure caused by either unrealistically high goals or those which aren’t nearly aggressive enough.

96. Dashboards Drive Business Performance - Wednesday, June 10, 2015

Numerous studies support the fact that companies that excel at aligning their marketing and sales efforts enjoy significantly higher revenue growth. A best-in-class strategy for creating such cohesion is the regular development of a business dashboard.

97. Making the Connection - Saturday, June 6, 2015

Archie Willis III had just earned his master’s degree in business at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill when he returned to Memphis in 1981 to help his father, A.W. Willis Jr., redevelop the Adler Hotel Annex.

98. Align Sales and Marketing to Grow Revenue - Wednesday, June 3, 2015

Teamwork. Every highly successful team gets just how important it is to propelling an organization forward. When true teamwork exists, all players are in lockstep.

Just like in sports, every player must be consistently in sync in each play for a maximum result. And the proverbial chain is only as strong as its weakest link.

99. 6 Tips for Selling to Millennials - Wednesday, May 27, 2015

Roughly 75 million strong, millennials are on a course to soon surpass their baby boomer parents as our nation’s largest living generation. This generation, also known as Gen Y, was born between 1981 and the early 2000s, and they are beginning to wield great influence in their professional roles.

100. Pair of Employee Benefits Firms Merge - Wednesday, May 6, 2015

Two Memphis-based employee benefits firms have merged, effective May 1, and they’re attributing the union in part to the daunting task some firms have of coming to grips with the Affordable Care Act.