Mueller Acquires Atco Rubber for $163M

Memphis-based Mueller Industries Inc. has acquired Fort Worth, Texas-based Atco Rubber Products Inc. in a $162.8 million deal, Mueller announced Monday, July 2.

Atco makes and distributes insulated flexible duct systems used in heating, ventilation and air-conditioning systems. The company operates 14 U.S. plants as well as locations in Germany, India, the Netherlands and the United Arab Emirates.

Atco posted revenues of approximately $166 million in the fiscal year that ended in December 2017. It has 800 employees. The acquisition goes toward building Mueller's climate products businesses.

Mueller specializes in copper and copper alloy manufacturing but also produces goods made from aluminum, steel and plastics. Its products include tubing, fittings and components used in plumbing and HVAC systems, as well as components for original equipment manufacturers in a variety of industries. The company’s network includes operations in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Great Britain, South Korea and China.

The Atco deal follows Mueller’s acquisition of Ontario, Canada-based Die-Mold Tool Limited in late March for $12.5 million in cash. Die-Mold manufactures plastic plumbing-related fittings and also designs and makes plastic injection tooling. And in May 2017, the company entered into an agreement to buy all the outstanding shares of Pexcor Manufacturing Co. Inc. and Heatlink Group Inc. for $16.3 million in cash. The companies, collectively known as Heatlink Group, make and sell products for plumbing and radiant heating and cooling systems.

– Daily News staff

GPAC Files $3.5M Permit For New Outdoor Venue

Germantown Performing Arts Center has filed a $3.5 million building permit application for a 1.5-acre open-air performance center. The Grove at GPAC will be located due north of its current location.

The permit cites outdoor performance set and site improvement additions for 1801 Exeter Road, and will include a covered stage with a high-definition, permanent video wall.

Local architectural firm archimania was tapped to handle the project’s design.

GPAC announced its plans for the outdoor venue last September, with the hopes of landing festivals, national and regional touring shows, local artist showcases, concert movies and films, simulcast concerts from inside GPAC, performances by other users, outdoor receptions and other events.

– Patrick Lantrip

MMDC to Host Boot Camp For Small Developers

The Memphis Medical District Collaborative will host a small developer boot camp July 21.

At the event, which will be held from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Memphis Bioworks, 20 Dudley St., potential developers will be able to network and learn the steps to cultivating a successful project.

Topics of discussion will include the power of the incremental approach, market research and site selection, project pro formas and financing a project.

Interested parties can register and find more information at thinkbigbuildsmall.com.

– Patrick Lantrip

Cordova Village Sells For $5.2 Million

Cordova LLC has sold Cordova Village, a 30,000-square-foot shopping center at 1315 N. Germantown Parkway, to HAO Investment Co. for $5.2 million.

Tiktin Real Estate Investment Services president Adam J. Tiktin and senior associate Cliff Weisner represented the sellers in the transaction, which closed June 29.

Currently, the site is 92 percent leased and counts PPG Paints, Subway and Domino’s Pizza as its tenants.

Situated on the corner of North Germantown Parkway and Autumn Creek Drive, the 3.1-acre Cordova Village center experiences traffic counts in excess of 56,000 vehicles per day.

South Florida-based Tiktin Real Estate Investment Services was founded in 2001 by Adam J. Tiktin.

– Patrick Lantrip

Bar Assn. Poll Recommends All Four Appointed Judges

The Memphis Bar Association poll of the most qualified candidates in the special judicial races on the Aug. 2 ballot recommends all four of the judges appointed to those positions in the interim.

Just over 1,000 attorneys participated in the poll, which asked respondents to pick who is the most qualified among the contenders in those races as well as court clerks on the August ballot.

The attorneys selected interim Circuit Court Division 7 Judge Mary Wagner as best qualified with 71.7 percent over Michael Floyd with 9.3 percent.

Interim Circuit Court Division 9 Judge David M. Rudolph was selected by 74.4 percent over judicial commissioner Yolanda Kight, who was selected by 15.3 percent.

Criminal Court Division 10 Judge Jennifer Smith Nichols was picked by 55.2 percent of attorneys compared to 15.7 percent for Jennifer Johnson Mitchell.

General Sessions Environmental Court Judge Patrick Dandridge was ranked as best qualified by 39.4 percent, compared to 25.4 percent for Robert “Price” Harris.

If attorneys had no opinion or weren’t familiar with any of the contenders, they were to indicate they had no opinion.

Wagner, Rudolph and Nichols were appointed to their positions by Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam. Dandridge was appointed by the Shelby County Commission.

All will serve until the election commission certifies the results of the Aug. 2 election. The winners of the races will serve through 2022, when the nonpartisan judicial positions are up for election for a full eight-year term.

In the races for the four elected court clerks, attorneys picked outgoing Register and Republican nominee Tom Leatherwood as best qualified in the race for Circuit Court clerk over Democratic nominee Temika Gipson.

Republican Court Clerk Richard DeSaussure polled at 45.5 percent, compared to 21.1 percent for Democratic challenger Heidi Kuhn.

In the race for Juvenile Court clerk, Republican nominee Bobby Simmons was ranked best qualified by 70.5 percent of those taking the poll. Democratic nominee Janis Fullilove was selected by 8.3 percent.

Former Probate Court Clerk and Republican Chris Thomas was rated as best qualified by 48 percent in his bid to return to the office, compared to 12.3 percent for Democrat Bill Morrison and 5 percent for independent Jennings Bernard.

– Bill Dries

Catholic Charities Helping With Refugee Relief Effort

Catholic Charities of West Tennessee is leading a delegation of Catholic Charities staff, community leaders and Catholic high school students to support the staff of Catholic Charities of the Rio Grande Valley in its Humanitarian Respite Center in McAllen, Texas. The center provides assistance to refugees who have crossed the border and have been processed by U.S. officials.

CCWTN is making the trip at the request of Catholic Charities USA. Catholic Charities staff will be serving in customer intake, volunteer services, media, logistics and donation processing. Students are serving food and distributing clothing.

The Memphis group arrived in Texas July 3 and 4 and will be returning July 11.

The Humanitarian Respite Center was started by CCRGV due to the influx of refugees crossing the border who didn’t have an adequate place to rest.

The center provides a place for the countless men, women, children and infants to rest, have a warm meal and a shower, and change into clean clothing as well as receive medicine and other supplies, before continuing their journey. It is a first stop for refugees after being released by U.S. authorities. Approximately 300 people are served at the respite center daily.

The Memphis delegation includes Catholic Charities executive director Dick Hackett and his wife, Kathy, as well as Catholic Charities chief operating officer Bill Brickhill, and Marie Gracia Boldrin, legal assistant in CCWTN’s Immigration Services program. Bill and Rene Platten, parishioners at Our Lady of Perpetual Help, also are traveling to assist with the effort.

Students on the trip represent St. Agnes Academy, Christian Brothers High School, St. Benedict at Auburndale High School and Immaculate Conception Cathedral School.

– Don Wade

U of M Women’s Golfers Honored for Academics

Three members of the University of Memphis women’s golf team were named Women’s Golf Coaches Association All-American Scholars for having a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher through this past season. Memphis’ two All-Conference honorees from last season, Sydney Colwill and Emily Goldenstein, earned repeat honors on the list, while sophomore Abigail Herrmann was a first-time honoree.

Goldenstein’s fourth consecutive WGCA All-American Scholar athlete caps what was a record-setting senior season at Memphis. She earned her first career all-conference honors by setting a Memphis single-season record with a 73.45 scoring average and set additional records in rounds under par (16) and birdies (89).

She graduated in May with a degree in accounting.

Colwill, who recently advanced to the semifinal round of the Tennessee Women’s Amateur Championships, is also a multiple-time honoree on the WGCA list, having earned the award in each of her previous two seasons. The finance major grabbed her first career all-conference honor earlier this spring after posting seven top 20 finishes, including medalist honors at the Rainbow Wahine Invitational in December.

Herrmann qualified for 10 of the Tigers’ 11 tournaments as a sophomore in 2017-18. She finished in a tie for first at the Magnolia Invitational and shaved a stroke off her scoring average from freshman to sophomore seasons. Her two top-20 finishes last season were the first of her collegiate career. This is the first career honor from the WGCA for Herrmann, who is majoring in marketing management.

– Don Wade

Vicar General Of Catholic Diocese Resigns

Monsignor Clement Machado has resigned his positions with the Catholic Diocese of Memphis as vicar general, moderator of the curia and chancellor.

The Catholic Diocese confirmed Machado’s resignation Monday, July 2, saying Machado remains assigned to the diocese.

Vicar general is the No. 2 position in the Diocesan hierarchy below Bishop Martin D. Holley.

A statement from the diocese says Machado resigned to finish his canon law degree in the coming academic year and to care for his mother, who recently was widowed.

The resignation comes as church leaders from outside the diocese appear to be investigating transfers of numerous parish priests reassigned shortly after Holley became bishop. Two church leaders were in Memphis last month to talk with parishioners about the reassignments.

– Bill Dries

Redbirds’ Hudson, Ravelo Pick Up Cardinals Honors

Memphis Redbirds pitcher Dakota Hudson has been named the St. Louis Cardinals Minor League Pitcher of the Month for June, and teammate Rangel Ravelo has been named the Minor League Player of the Month.

Hudson, who last week was voted the starting pitcher for the Pacific Coast League in the Triple-A All-Star Game, went 5-0 with a 1.06 ERA (4er/34.0ip) in five starts in June. Opponents hit just .222 against him during the month, and he gave up only 28 hits.

Hudson’s 11 wins this season lead all of Minor League Baseball, and his 2.10 ERA is second in the PCL. The right-hander has won eight of his last nine starts and he has allowed two earned runs or fewer in 12 of his 15 starts.

Ravelo hit .449 (31-69) in 20 June games with three doubles, six home runs, and 23 RBI, and he only struck out four times. He reached base at a .537 clip during the month and slugged .783, which was good for a 1.319 OPS. He had 11 multi-hit games out of his 20 played during the month. Ravelo currently leads the Redbirds with a .313 batting average, and his .403 on-base percentage is also tops on the club.

Earlier this season, Redbird Austin Gomber was the Cardinals Minor League Pitcher of the Month for April.

– Don Wade

Carolina Watershed to Offer Shuttle Service to Site

Carolina Watershed is offering shuttle service to and from its 141 E. Carolina Ave. location for Memphis-area residents.

A representative from the restaurant will meet passengers at a preferred pickup location, where they will then be shuttled to Carolina Watershed.

“We’re looking forward to having the Watershed shuttle up and running, as well as bringing in a whole new crowd to not only our restaurant, but also to the entire Downtown Memphis area,” said Carolina Watershed developer and owner Mac Hopper. “We want everyone to be able to get the full Watershed experience, and part of that is making our venue easily accessible to all those interested in visiting.”

For more information, email info@carolinawatershed.com or call 901-321-5553.

– Patrick Lantrip

Memphis to Host Inaugural ‘TakeOff’ Conference

Memphis has been selected as the host city for “TakeOff 2018,” a new air service networking conference that is focused on connecting airlines with smaller and non-hub airports.

The inaugural TakeOff event will take place Oct. 29-30 at The Peabody hotel and is expected to draw more than 200 professionals from airports, airlines and other travel and aviation organizations.

The conference will bring airports together with the domestic planning teams of U.S. and Canadian carriers for one-on-one meetings about new and expanded air service. The event is tailored to smaller and non-hub airports and will use a type of “speed dating” between airports and airlines.

TakeOff also will include speakers covering contemporary industry issues and educational content to assist airports with their air service development activity. TakeOff is being delivered by ASM North America, a new branch of air service consultant ASM (Airport Strategy & Marketing). ASM has assisted airports, airlines, tourism authorities and governments with air service development since 1993.

– Don Wade

Developers Seek Variance For Medical District Apts.

Guatom Malhotra with RK Developers LLC is seeking a height variance from the Memphis & Shelby County Board of Adjustment for a 20-unit apartment complex in the Memphis Medical District.

The developers are planning to construct the nearly 44-foot-tall building on a 0.3-acre lot where a single-family residence currently sits at 1162 Peabody Ave.

The Medical Overlay portion of the Unified Development Code sets the maximum height for a new building in the area at 35 feet.

RK is requesting the height variance in order to elevate the apartment complex 10 to 12 feet to accommodate additional parking below the building.

The Board of Adjustment will review RK’s request during its July 25 meeting.

– Patrick Lantrip

First Horizon Promotes Johnson to Senior VP

First Horizon National Corp., First Tennessee Bank’s parent company, has promoted Darin Johnson to senior vice president and credit risk manager for government lending programs.

In his new role, Johnson will oversee risk management for lending through the Small Business Administration and for Community Reinvestment commercial programs across the First Horizon footprint, which also includes Capital Bank, FTB Advisors and FTN Financial.

Previously, Johnson served as center director for centralized commercial loan administration.

– Patrick Lantrip

Court-Appointed Counsel Rate Change Takes Effect

With the start of the fiscal year Sunday, July 1, the Tennessee Supreme Court has formally ordered an increase in how much court-appointed attorneys are paid in the state to represent indigent clients in criminal and child welfare cases.

The increase to $50 an hour for all services is funded with a $9.7 million line item in the state government budget approved by the Tennessee Legislature earlier this year.

The court order also includes a 25 percent hike in the hourly rate paid to attorneys for out-of-court work and raises the limits attorneys can receive in total from $250 to $500, depending on the kind of case.

“The court views this increase as the first in a series of changes for attorney rates and Tennessee’s indigent representation system,” said Tennessee Supreme Court chief justice Jeff Bivins. “Court-appointed lawyers in criminal and child welfare cases play an essential role in our judicial system. We are grateful for their invaluable services. This rate increase is just the first step in establishing a fair compensation system for attorneys representing indigent parties by court appointment.”

The court has also launched an updated online payment system for attorneys and expects to soon begin accepting electronically filed documents to the state’s appellate courts.

– Bill Dries