Smith & Nephew Files $8M Permit for HQ

Smith & Nephew has filed an $8 million permit with the city-county Office of Construction Code Enforcement to make improvements to space in its orthopedic division’s global headquarters building on Goodlett Farms Parkway.

The permit says work will include building out “office, lab and kitchen spaces inside an existing two-story shell” at 7135 Goodlett Farms Parkway. The Shelby County Register of Deeds lists the property as 7126 Goodlett Farms Parkway.

Smith & Nephew bought the property in January 2010 for $14 million as part of its $42 million expansion of its orthopedic division’s global headquarters, based in Memphis.

Built in 2003, the 293,504-square-foot building sits on 24.97 acres in the Goodlett Farms East Planned Development. The Shelby County Assessor of Property’s 2009 appraisal was $18.4 million.

The Goodlett Farms site hosts the research, marketing and development functions of Smith & Nephew’s global orthopedics division. It also serves as a training facility for the orthopedics sales team and the company’s sales team. The site has more than 285,000 square feet of office space as well as 40 acres for future growth and expansion.

Source: The Daily News Online & Chandler Reports

– Daily News staff

Monday Deadline For Dunavant Award Nominees

Monday is the deadline for nominations for the eighth annual Bobby Dunavant Public Service Awards.

The awards honor an elected and a non-elected public official for their service to the public and are named in honor of the late Probate Court Clerk Bobby Dunavant.

The awards are given by the Rotary Club of Memphis East in partnership with the University of Memphis and The Daily News.

Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam will be the featured speaker at the May 23 luncheon at the Holiday Inn University of Memphis, 3700 Central Ave.

The entry deadline was extended to Monday, and nominations can be made through forms on the Rotary website at www.rotaryclubofmemphiseast.org.

The nominees are judged by the Rotary Club and Dunavant’s family on the nominees’ honesty, lack of pretentiousness, attentiveness, mentoring abilities and accessibility.

– Bill Dries

brg3s Separates from TRO Jung|Brannen

The Memphis office of TRO Jung|Brannen has become the privately held brg3s architects. The new name represents Steve Berger, Brett Ragsdale, Susan Golden, Jon Summers, Ed Scharff and Jay Sweeney, the six shareholders.

brg3s architects offers services in architecture, interior design and master planning for a wide variety of project types. Memphis landmarks designed by the firm include the Shrine Building, the Claridge House and the Southern College of Optometry. Recent notable projects include the Memphis Humane Society, WKNO Digital Media Center and the Shelby County Forensic Center, currently under construction.

Still boasting a strong working relationship with Boston-based TRO Jung|Brannen, the move represents an effort to remain competitive in an economic climate that has been tough on the design and construction industry.

“The new relationship will allow us greater autonomy in operations, localizing decision-making in project selection and in controlling costs while still providing an option to partner with an internationally acclaimed design firm on a project-by-project basis,” said Berger, brg3s president, in a statement.

– Sarah Baker

Burkett Leaving First Tennessee

Charles Burkett, president of banking at First Tennessee, is ending a four-decade career with the bank with his retirement at the end of this year, First Tennessee announced Wednesday.

Burkett also is stepping down from his current role at the end of June.

His long career with the bank began in 1970, when he was still a student at the University of Memphis. He started as a part-time employee, then joined the company full-time in 1973 as a management trainee after graduating from college.

His leadership roles have covered personal banking, retail credit, installment and credit card loan administration, small business lending, trust, investments, insurance and financial planning.

Bryan Jordan, president and CEO of First Tennessee parent company First Horizon National Corp., said Burkett has been instrumental in building First Tennessee into the dominant homegrown bank in the state.

“He has a great passion for the people of this state, our customers and the employees of our company,” Jordan said. “He’s a great competitor, and there’s no doubt that he’s one of the reasons we have the largest deposit share in our markets and one of the country’s highest bank customer retention rates.”

Burkett has been active in the Memphis community, serving in leadership roles with the American Heart Association, the Greater Memphis Chamber, United Way, the Mid-South Minority Business Council and the University of Memphis Board of Visitors.

– Andy Meek

A2H Celebrates 25 Years Saturday

In honor of Askew Hargraves Harcourt & Associates Inc. (A2H)’s 25th anniversary, the local architectural and engineering firm will host an event Saturday at its office, 3009 Davies Plantation Road in Lakeland.

Entertainment will be provided by 2 Mule Plow, with barbecue by A2H’s “When Pigs Fly” team, door prizes, office tours and more.

The event, slated from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., is free and open to the public. For more information, contact Casey O’Rourke at caseyo@a2h.com or 372-0404.

– Sarah Baker

Redbirds Host "Bark in the Ballpark"

Memphis Redbirds Baseball and Memphis Animal Services are teaming up to encourage Memphians to adopt a canine companion.

Through Friday, the nonprofit baseball organization and the city shelter are handing out pairs of tickets to residents adopting shelter pets.

On Saturday, those dogs and their new families are invited to attend “Bark in the Ballpark,” a dog-friendly night at AutoZone Park.

The public is invited to attend with their dogs, which will be given free admission with the purchase of one outfield box ticket per owner.

Memphis Animal Services will be on site with a group of dogs they hope will be adopted by Redbirds fans.

Call 721-6000 or visit www.memphisredbirds.com for tickets.

– Aisling Maki

Driver's Edge Makes Memphis Start

Driver’s Edge, a nonprofit organization that provides real-life training for young drivers, will make its first visit to Memphis May 14 and 15 at the Mid-South Fairgrounds, 940 Early Maxwell Blvd., as part of the program’s 2011 Driver’s Edge National Tour.

There are two sessions each day: session one begins at 8 a.m. and ends at 12:30 p.m. and session two begins at 1 p.m. and ends at 5:30 p.m.

Because of donations from Bridgestone Americas, Inc., Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations LLC, Bridgestone Retail Operations LLC and the IZOD IndyCar, there is no charge for drivers ages 15 to 21 possessing a valid learner’s permit or driver’s license. Parents are welcome, as well. Guests must register in advance at www.driversedge.org.

– Allison Buckley

State Systems Offers New Sprinkler Service Line

Memphis-based State Systems Inc. has announced the addition of a new fire sprinkler service line to its fire protection division.

The fire sprinkler service line will offer inspection and service work to all types of automatic fire sprinkler systems, including inspection and repair of wet pipe, dry pipe, deluge and pre-action sprinklers. The new service also will offer inspection and repairs of fire pumps, standpipes and fire hydrants.

The addition of the new service will add three new positions to the company, including a manager, with plans for the addition of five more positions within the next year.

– Taylor Shoptaw