For veteran accountant and accomplished musician Steve Dunavant, balancing his two passions – music and accounting – is easy. For more than 20 years, he has maintained music as a side gig, playing multiple instruments around town, recording albums, and creating a music label and recording studio to help showcase Memphis musicians. During his weekdays, he crunches numbers as CBIZ senior managing director.

2. Police HQ No Longer in Running for Second Convention Center Hotel - Tuesday, August 7, 2018

The Civic Center Plaza building that is currently Memphis Police Department headquarters is out of the running to be the site of a second convention center hotel.

“That site was contemplated in the beginning. It’s no longer in the running,” Downtown Memphis Commission president Jennifer Oswalt said of 170 N. Main St. on the WKNO/Channel 10 program “Behind The Headlines.”

3. JLL Circling Again Just When State Workers Felt Safe from Outsourcing - Thursday, July 19, 2018

Just when workers at the state’s college campuses thought it was safe to go back in the water, corporate sharks are once again circling.

Jones Lang LaSalle, the state’s contractor for facilities management and grounds, asked to make proposals at Tennessee’s 13 junior colleges to see if it can take over. Tennessee’s colleges of applied technology are believed to be in the mix, too.

4. Harris and Lenoir Clash in First General Election Mayoral Debate - Thursday, June 14, 2018

The two contenders for Shelby County mayor on the Aug. 2 ballot differed Wednesday, June 13, on leadership experience and whether county government has been breaking ground on important issues or has taken too long to act on those issues.

5. If Only Legislators Could Focus on Important Issues - Thursday, May 24, 2018

A year-old law enabling Tennessee colleges and universities to keep secret the “proprietary” fees they pay money managers for handling risky investments is likely to be reviewed this year.

6. Fall Creek Falls Project Leaves Destructive Trail - Thursday, May 10, 2018

The Fall Creek Falls Inn and Conference Center will soon be in ruins like the livelihoods of the state employees who worked there.

Fewer than half the state employees who worked at the inn found new state jobs after it closed in early April. Some are working for nearly half the pay, and some had to move away from Van Buren County or drive long distances to keep a job with the state.

7. Community LIFT Looking to Build $5 Million Loan Pool Amid Growth - Saturday, March 31, 2018

An organization that pursues sources of financial, human and intellectual capital to strategically revitalize neighborhoods wants to build a $5 million loan pool for investing in Memphis communities and leaders.

8. Small Cell Legislation Advancing, But Rural Options More Limited - Monday, March 19, 2018

NASHVILLE – Unable to get cell-phone service at a football game in Nashville or Knoxville? Can’t send a text from a Broadway honky tonk or Beale Street blues bar? Wondering how autonomous cars will ever work?

9. Trey Carter Honored Among Top 35 Millennial Influencers - Wednesday, March 7, 2018

Patrick “Trey” Carter III has been named one of the Top 35 Millennial Influencers in the Country by the Next Big Thing Movement, a global network of more than 20,000 young professionals and creatives. Carter, president of Olympic Career Training Institute and an active community volunteer, is the only Tennessean to be included on the list. He will be honored Saturday, March 10, at NBTM’s Forward Conference in New York City alongside other influencers, including “The Daily Show” host Trevor Noah, Teen Vogue editor Elaine Welteroth and YouTube vlogger Tyler Oakley.

10. Council and Commission Talk Pre-K and Workforce Development - Monday, March 5, 2018

When 20 of the 26 Memphis City Council members and Shelby County Commissioners got together Thursday, March 1, at Beale Street Landing, the idea of county government providing funds to expand access to prekindergarten got resistance on the county side.

11. Council and Commission Talk Pre-K and Workforce By The River - Friday, March 2, 2018

When 20 of the 26 Memphis City Council members and Shelby County Commissioners got together Thursday, March 1, at Beale Street Landing, the idea of some kind of county government funding for expanding access to pre-kindergarten ran into some resistance on the county side.

12. CRE Owners Look To Reap Rewards Of New Tax Cuts - Saturday, February 24, 2018

The start of the year enjoyed a flurry of commercial real estate sales and building permits, on the heels of federal tax cuts passed late last year that are expected to benefit CRE owners and possibly impact the number of new projects and sales announced this year.

13. Couch-Smith Drives Tsunami Nuances Behind the Scenes - Saturday, February 17, 2018

Tsunami continues to reinvent itself as it approaches 20 years in business this year and is beginning 2018 with its strongest holiday season on the books.

Colleen Couch-Smith, wife of Tsunami chef Ben Smith, is instrumental to the success and world-class status of the restaurant, bringing an artistic eye, discerning palate and insightful management style to the table.

14. The Metrics Mayor - Saturday, February 10, 2018

At times in the last two years, political supporters of Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland have been worried. They agree with what got him elected, his “brilliant at the basics” philosophy that makes basic services and fundamental play-it-safe financial strategies the priority at City Hall.

15. Piece by Piece: Construction Projects Flourishing Throughout Mid-South - Saturday, December 9, 2017

With $11 billion spread out among more than 300 active projects in the Memphis area, according to data from brokerage firm Cushman & Wakefield/Commercial Advisors, it’s safe to say business in the region is good.

16. What is MROI? - Wednesday, August 9, 2017

Have you ever looked at your organization’s marketing spend and wondered, “What do I have to show for this?” Or maybe you spent the six-figure marketing budget and have to justify the same spend for the upcoming budget year. Either way, you need to calculate marketing return on investment (MROI).

17. Money is Not Enough - Tuesday, August 1, 2017

Nonprofits play a critical role across the Mid-South. They represent, serve and advocate for a great diversity of individuals, families and causes. They improve the quality of life, generate innovations, and give voice to the challenges unseen and needs still unmet. They are joined in this work by foundations and corporations who provide money, resources, connections and technical assistance.

18. Fully Loaded - Saturday, July 29, 2017

It’s almost like the first half of 2017 was a decade in the making, at least when it comes to commercial real estate. Throughout all four major sectors of the Memphis-area commercial real estate market – industrial, office, retail and multifamily – figures are consistently reaching or exceeding pre-recession marks.

19. Need For Speed - Saturday, July 8, 2017

Access to high-speed broadband is a growing issue in Tennessee as technological advances in business and education become more digitally based. For the rural areas around Memphis and across the state, it is becoming a matter of disparity both on the workforce-training front and in classrooms. And the two are inextricably linked.

20. New Grizzlies Ready to Work, Free Agent Picture Still Cloudy - Friday, June 30, 2017

All across the NBA landscape, teams are trotting out their second-round draft picks and saying the same things: We had these players rated higher. We couldn’t believe they were still there. And the classic, “We’re so happy they fell to us.”

21. Medicaid Cuts Could Hit Rural Children Hardest - Thursday, June 15, 2017

As Congress fiddles with an Obamacare replacement, one likely to cut billions in Medicaid spending, health care experts warn a decrease in funding could be hard on Tennessee.

During a recent forum in Jackson, Andy Schneider of the Georgetown Center on Children and Families reported that 50 percent of Tennessee’s children in small towns and rural areas are covered by Medicaid, a higher percentage than the rest of the nation, and more than in Tennessee’s urban areas where 39 percent have Medicaid.

22. Memphis Banks Build Brand Awareness Via Marketing, Community Investments - Saturday, June 3, 2017

As a complement to traditional advertising, one way banks like Regions Bank, First Tennessee Bank and Pinnacle Financial Partners promote their brands in the local community is by spreading money around to everything from charitable causes to putting their name and logos on buildings and events.

23. EDGE's ICED Loan Program Gives Small-Business Owners a Hand Up - Saturday, April 1, 2017

Camy Archer had built a loyal following of customers at her eponymous Midtown restaurant over the course of two decades and business was good.

But when her landlord struck a deal with another tenant in 2015, she was suddenly scrambling to find a new home for her business before she ended up losing everything she worked so hard to create.

24. Hopson, Caldwell Plan for SCS Long-Term - Tuesday, March 21, 2017

Five years into historic changes in public education locally, the rapid pace of change is starting to give way to longer-term views and plans.

“This has been the first year since the merger that we actually are in a position to do some strategic investments in our schools,” Shelby County Schools superintendent Dorsey Hopson said on the WKNO/Channel 10 program “Behind The Headlines.”

25. What are Capacity and Infrastructure? - Tuesday, February 21, 2017

Knowing your mission, vision and proposed impact is critical to your success as an organization. Equally important is the process of building your capacity and infrastructure. But what exactly are these things?

26. 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.

27. Saving More – Can It Be Done? - Friday, January 13, 2017

Ray’s Take When you’re busy focusing on living your life, it’s easy to fall into spending habits that aren’t exactly consistent with your long-term goals. Marketing departments hire some very smart people who can get you to buy things that you didn’t even know you wanted!

28. Transcript: CBU to Transform Campus, Transition to Project-Based Learning - Saturday, November 19, 2016

Christian Brothers University is not only changing the look of its campus at Central Avenue and East Parkway. Leaders of the institution are embarking on the second phase of a $70 million capital campaign that includes plans to “blow up” the university’s department of education to include Crosstown High School and the neighboring Middle College High School, extend internships to all students and to create a new library that is more than “air conditioning for books.”

29. Last Word: Election Day Arrives, Compass Changes Course and Downtown Dining - Tuesday, November 8, 2016

…Some notes and observations on Election Eve from someone who does this for a living…

Most of you – around 60 percent of the total number of people who will cast ballots in Shelby County in this election cycle – have already voted if past Presidential election cycles in Shelby County are any indication. You voted early.

30. Election Fallout: What a Trump Or Clinton Presidency Means for State - Saturday, November 5, 2016

Donald Trump is going to win easily in Tennessee.

Everyone, most of all the campaigns for both Trump and Hillary Clinton, accept this fact, as evidenced by the lack of campaign time spent in the state – and most of the South, for that matter – during this contentious campaign cycle.

31. How Top Sales Teams Maximize Trade Shows - Wednesday, August 31, 2016

Editor’s Note: This is the first in a two-part series. Your marketing team can go all out before a trade show. They can create a compelling booth design, write informative collateral and come up with exciting giveaways to grab attention.

32. Haves, Have-Nots Get Varied Tax Relief - Thursday, May 12, 2016

Amid the rancor of bathroom and counseling bills, two major pieces of legislation slipped through the General Assembly this session with hardly a peep – elimination of the Hall tax and a partial revitalization of property tax relief for seniors and disabled veterans.

33. More Student Housing For University District - Thursday, May 12, 2016

3557 Mynders Ave. 
Memphis, TN 38111
Permit Amount: $15.5 million

Completion: Fall 2017
Owner: 908 Group
Tenant: The Nine
Architect: BDG Architects
Details: A student housing tower near the University of Memphis has taken a step forward nearly two years after a development on that site was first announced.

34. Aspire to Open New Charter School - Saturday, May 7, 2016

Aspire Public Schools is opening a new kindergarten through first-grade charter school in Hickory Hill. Montgomery Martin Contractors recently applied for a $3.3 million building permit at 6870 Winchester Road, the site of a former Haverty’s furniture store.

35. Aspire to Open New Charter School - Friday, May 6, 2016

Aspire Public Schools is opening a new kindergarten through first-grade charter school in Hickory Hill. Montgomery Martin Contractors recently applied for a $3.3 million building permit at 6870 Winchester Road, the site of a former Haverty’s furniture store.

36. A Look at the Numbers - Friday, April 15, 2016

Ray’s Take: The economy is in flux and there’s a lot of uncertainty over the direction of the capital markets and interest rates. It’s a familiar refrain by this point. Volatility has increased to a numbing level where perhaps we aren’t paying attention as closely as we should to what’s happening in the financial world around us.

37. Defending Memphis - Saturday, November 28, 2015

Four years ago, I Love Memphis was merely an expression on a tattered and Scotch-taped sheet of paper with a red heart where the word “love” would be. Various people held it and had their pictures made with it for the “I Love Memphis” social media accounts.

38. Metro Nashville’s Local-Hire Rule Gets Battered On Many Fronts - Saturday, October 10, 2015

The ink wasn’t dry on standards for Metro Nashville’s local-hire charter amendment when new Mayor Megan Barry put the measure on hold – despite sizable support in the August election.

39. Work Stress is Bad for Your Health - Friday, September 11, 2015

If you’re feeling stressed at work, it turns out it may actually be bad for your long-term health. Researchers from Harvard and Stanford found that work stress can be as bad for you as secondhand smoke.

40. Investors Pumping Hundreds of Millions Into Tennessee Startups - Saturday, May 16, 2015

The assignment sounded simple enough: Find out whether more money is coming into Nashville for startups.

If so, where is it coming from and what does it means to entrepreneurs, investors and the rest of us?

41. What to Do After a Big Raise - Friday, May 8, 2015

As today’s professionals are learning, the fastest way to get a big raise is to switch jobs. Often, staying at the same job will put an additional 2 to 3 percent in your pocket each year. That’s not enough to keep up with the rising costs of rent, food or much of anything.

42. Ready to Spend - Saturday, February 21, 2015

Elizabeth Moss is in the middle of a total kitchen renovation at the Hendersonville home she bought on August 4, 2013.

43. Room for Growth - Saturday, October 4, 2014

Sardor and Gulam Umarov are used to fighting battles with seemingly long odds.

Between 2005 and 2009, the brothers waged a high-profile human rights campaign against the authoritarian government in their native Uzbekistan for the release of their father, Sanjar Umarov, a Germantown businessman thrown into prison for opposing the regime.

44. Gestalt Schools Signs Lease in Hickory Hill - Friday, June 20, 2014

A charter school operator has inked a lease for space on Winchester Road in Hickory Hill.

Gestalt Community Schools has leased 57,000 square feet of space at 5360 Winchester Road inside the Mendenhall Square shopping center.

45. Aren Investments Buys Winchester Haverty’s - Tuesday, June 17, 2014

6870 Winchester Road
Memphis, TN 38115
Sale Amount: $1.1 million

Sale Date: June 2, 2014
Buyer: Aren Investments LLC
Seller: Kirsch Associates LP
Loan Amount: $850,000
Loan Date: June 2, 2014
Maturity Date: Nov. 15, 2015
Lender: BancorpSouth Bank
Details: Local real estate investment firm Aren Investments LLC has paid $1.1 million for the Haverty’s furniture store at 6870 Winchester Road in Hickory Hill.

46. Aren Investments Buys Winchester Haverty’s - Monday, June 16, 2014

Local real estate investment firm Aren Investments LLC has paid $1.1 million for the Haverty’s furniture store at 6870 Winchester Road in Hickory Hill.

47. Burleigh Consulting Group Changes With Times - Monday, February 10, 2014

Robert C. Burleigh still enjoys playing tennis four times a week. But the 78-year-old founder of Burleigh Consulting Group admits he is playing more doubles matches these days.

“I’m running a little slower now, so it’s mostly doubles now, not a lot of singles,” said Burleigh with a chuckle.

48. Council Approves Ballpark Deal - Wednesday, January 8, 2014

Memphis City Council members approved the city’s $19.5 million purchase of AutoZone Park Tuesday, Jan. 7, and another $4.5 million in improvements to the baseball park.

The deal includes the St. Louis Cardinals buying the Memphis Redbirds franchise and entering into a 17-year lease with the city of Memphis at $300,000 a year.

49. Resolve to Right Your Finances - Wednesday, January 8, 2014

It’s 2014. Odds are you made a resolution this year. Maybe you want to lose weight, get a new job or learn to cook. But how do your finances look? If you aren’t thinking about retirement, education or just saving for a rainy day, 2014 is the time to start. If you are thinking about it, where do you stand? Regardless of your situation, I’d like to challenge you to do a few things to better your financial situation in 2014.

50. Chasing Growth - Saturday, October 26, 2013

The pressure to show investors growth and a return is one of the most basic realities of operating as a public company.

And the three Memphis-based companies on this year’s Fortune 500 list are pressing forward on their own distinct paths toward satisfying that pressure.

51. Affordable Care Act - Saturday, September 28, 2013

On Oct. 1, a new shopping website will launch in Tennessee.

Much like Amazon.com, it will offer a place where consumers can compare products from different sellers and buy the one that best suits their needs.

52. Think Twice Before Picking Retirement Date - Thursday, September 26, 2013

Ray’s Take “When I hit age 65, I’m out of here,” is a common enough observation. Global competition, increased governmental regulation and the speed of technological innovation have made working careers more unnerving than ever. That magical number “65” was selected a long time ago when life expectancies were a good bit shorter. We run our retirement models to at least age 95 now. Delaying retirement beyond that magical number of 65 for even a few years can make a significant difference in your financial security.

53. Longleaf Funds Disappoint in Second Quarter - Saturday, August 10, 2013

The Longleaf Partners family of mutual funds – for which Memphis-based Southeastern Asset Management acts as adviser – had a disappointing second quarter.

Three of the four funds were down for the quarter.

54. Grass-Roots Growth - Thursday, August 8, 2013

From where Tamara Cook sits, the future of the Cooper-Young Historic District looks as bright as it’s ever been.

55. Longleaf Funds Underperform in Second Quarter - Tuesday, August 6, 2013

The Longleaf Partners family of mutual funds – for which Memphis-based Southeastern Asset Management acts as adviser – had a disappointing second quarter.

Three of the four funds were down for the quarter.

56. Don’t Dwell on Market Downturn - Thursday, March 7, 2013

Ray’s Take In my 30 years of investment management, I’ve found there is always someone predicting another market downturn. Eventually they’ll be right. After all, historically, there’s been a bear market about every three years. Should you be concerned? Not overly, unless your decisions make a market downturn even more painful.

57. Medical Office Sector Enters Transitional Period - Monday, October 29, 2012

As the trend for health care mergers intensifies, the city’s medical office market evolves, with some private practices consolidating into hospital systems and others relocating to better serve their patients.

58. Smart Investing Made Hard - Thursday, September 6, 2012

Ray’s Take As if the complexities of stocks, bonds, and other investment options weren’t challenging enough, our own bodies can push us into poor financial decisions. The study of neuroeconomics – a discipline that encompasses economics, biology, and psychology – has determined that our brains simply aren’t hard-wired to make rational decisions involving risk. And, investing is all about risk management in one form or another.

59. Financial Records: Shred Or Keep? - Thursday, July 26, 2012

Ray’s Take Many people save all their financial records, quickly accumulating boxes and boxes of paper, and then find it nearly impossible to locate the one piece of information they need. My mom recently helped a friend move out of her home of 50 years, and found that she kept canceled checks for utility bills that dated back to the 1960s! She was afraid to get rid of them, thinking she might need them someday. I think there are a lot of files and boxes of financial records out there.

60. Aren Buys SE Memphis Warehouse For $1.3M - Friday, June 22, 2012

Trane U.S. Inc. has sold its parts distribution center in Southeast Memphis for $1.3 million.

Aren Investments LLC of Memphis acquired the 99,375-square-foot distribution warehouse at 4250 Concord Road. The company, which used a 1450 Massey Road address on the Shelby County Register of Deeds, financed the purchase with an $800,000 loan through BancorpSouth Bank. Igal Elfezouaty signed the trust deed as managing member of Aren.

61. Fueling Up - Monday, May 28, 2012

If the political ads along these lines haven’t already started by the time this story is printed, don’t worry. They’ll arrive soon enough.

Somewhere out there, a Republican political strategist is cooking up an ad that hits President Barack Obama over the average price at the gas pump these days – which, while it has fallen in recent weeks, is still a lot higher than when the president took office. At press time, the national average for a gallon of regular gas was $3.72 – up from a little less than $2 when George W. Bush left office.

62. Cuts in European Bank Lending to Drag Growth - Thursday, April 19, 2012

WASHINGTON (AP) — The International Monetary Fund warned Wednesday that European banks are under pressure to preserve capital and could cut back sharply on lending over the next two years, slowing the region’s growth.

63. Safe Investments Often Dangerous - Thursday, March 8, 2012

Ray’s Take The economy is still uncertain, and financial reporters aren’t shedding any light on the future. The truth is things are always uncertain. Many people have retreated to “safe” investments, such as cash, CDs, government bonds or even gold. Unfortunately, these investments aren’t as safe as they may seem.

64. Buffett Says Stocks, Homes Cheaper Now - Tuesday, February 28, 2012

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) – Billionaire Warren Buffett said Monday, Feb. 27, that stocks remain relatively cheap compared to other investments as the economy continues to improve. He also said that the company he heads is prepared to replace him whenever the need arises.

65. Valero Planning $298M Investment in Memphis - Thursday, December 15, 2011

Two Memphis companies will ask for tax breaks at next week’s meeting of the Memphis-Shelby County EDGE Board to help them keep and make new investments in their local operations.

The board meets Wed., Dec. 21, at the Crescent Center, 6075 Poplar, at 3:00 p.m.

66. Plotting a Course - Monday, September 19, 2011

State and federal officials are developing new programs and legislation to bolster small businesses.Many companies are facing a variety of hurdles in a lackluster economy in which millions remain jobless and the outlook for consumer confidence and companies’ confidence in hiring and investing remain bleak. But what shape those hurdles have taken depends on who you ask.

67. Memphians Undergoing Cosmetic Procedures More Often - Wednesday, April 13, 2011

Cosmetic procedures such as filling wrinkles with injectables, airbrush facelifts and laser skin rejuvenation aren’t just for Hollywood starlets and Park Avenue socialites anymore.

Mid-Southerners, too, are making substantial long-term cosmetic investments in their appearance, thanks to the latest technologies, which can offer minimal downtime and little to no bruising.

68. Time to Get Back on the Horse - Thursday, October 14, 2010

Ray’s Take: I’m hearing a lot of people talk about how they’ve cut back on their investments in 401(k)s, IRAs and long-term investments. The main reason they give is the poor performance of stocks over the last several years.

69. Aren Buys Delp Warehouse from Prologis - Thursday, July 15, 2010

Aren Investments LLC of Memphis has paid $1.5 million for the 86,400-square-foot warehouse at 4041 Delp St. from Prologis-North Carolina LP.

70. Archived Article: Marketplace Chg - Monday, September 15, 1997
By CAMILLE H Money woes Despite healthy economy, people still use credit and worry about money By CAMILLE H. GAMBLE The Daily News Despite a growing, healthy economy, people are still worried about money, and the reason may be they are spending more...

71. Archived Article: Tech Focus Chg - Wednesday, April 16, 1997
Before the Internet, students could look to the familys set of encyclopedias for help with geography or history homework, but if the parents were not mathematically inclined, they may have been out of look with their calculus homework The Web as a m...

72. Archived Article: Econ.boom.st - Monday, February 24, 1997
Gov. Don Sundquist announced recently that for the second consecutive year capital investments in Tennessee, made by new and expanding businesses, has sored to an all-time high. Investment in state reaches new height Feb. 24, 1997 -- For the second ...