Author: jmuir

UT Federal Credit Union Named Corporate Philanthropist of the Year by AFP Tennessee

Posted on November 7, 2025 by - Uncategorized

UTFCU building

UT Federal Credit Union (UTFCU) has been named Corporate Philanthropist of the Year by the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) Tennessee, Great Smoky Mountain Chapter. The award was presented during AFP’s National Philanthropy Day 2025 celebration on Thursday, November 6, 2025, at The Relix in Knoxville, TN.

Nominated by the Pellissippi State Foundation, one of the credit union’s long-term community partners, the award recognizes UTFCU’s commitment to uplifting the region through education, financial empowerment, and compassionate giving.

“Our purpose has always been to pour our resources and care back into the communities we’re privileged to serve,” said Kenyon Warren, President and CEO of UT Federal Credit Union. “We’re grateful to the Pellissippi State Foundation for their nomination and to AFP for this meaningful recognition.”

Since its founding in 1969, UTFCU has been guided by a people-first, community-focused mission. That commitment has grown into an expansive network of local partnerships and philanthropic initiatives, including:

  • $850,000 in scholarships and scholarship endowments supporting students at the University of Tennessee and Pellissippi State Community College.
  • The UTFCU Kindness Committee, an employee-led program that coordinates volunteerism and charitable giving across the credit union’s service areas.
  • Nearly 100 local sponsorships over the past year, supporting schools, small businesses, youth programs, and nonprofits throughout Tennessee.
  • The return of UTFCU’s “Acts of Kindness” initiative this fall, providing meals, volunteer hours, and resources to the community and nonprofits.
  • Financial wellness programs, financial education, and credit-building solutions that help members strengthen their financial foundations.

These efforts reflect UTFCU’s ongoing strategy of growing locally and giving locally, ensuring every initiative makes a difference in the lives of members and neighbors. “Being recognized for our philanthropic efforts motivates us to do even more,” Warren added. “We want to touch more lives, support more families, and help more communities thrive. That’s what being a Tennessee credit union is all about.”

The Dialogue with Angela Chaffin

Posted on November 5, 2025 by - Uncategorized

Angela Chaffin

This feature is a question-and-answer session with a Blount County Chamber member. So, here we go with our 236th installment visiting with Angela Chaffin, owner of Bloom Functional Wellness, which helps people in our community take charge of their health by finding and addressing the underlying causes of fatigue, hormonal changes, digestive issues, and other chronic symptoms. We use personalized testing and natural, evidence based treatments to help patients feel and function their best.

How did you get started? was inspired to start Bloom after my own heath journey. Having worked in traditional medicine for many years, I realized that many people weren’t finding lasting solutions to their health concerns. That experience led me to functional medicine where I discovered a more comprehensive, root-cause approach to healing.

What is your background? I have masters degree in nursing and am board certified as a Family Nurse Practitioner. I later became certified in Functional Medicine.

Describe your customers? My customers are men and women who want to take an active role in their health. They’ve tried traditional medicine without lasting results and are ready for a more personalized, natural approach to health.

What are somethings you wish you knew when you started? How much better I could help people feel, the advanced testing available for diagnosing, and possibly I wish I knew a broader network of other functional practices to create more of a holistic community referral system for my patients.

What do you enjoy most about your profession? Helping people feel better and understand their bodies better and how to specifically take the best care of themselves.

UT Federal Credit Union and Knoxville Ice Bears Launch Multi-Year Partnership

Posted on October 31, 2025 by - Uncategorized

Ice Bears hockey

UT Federal Credit Union (UTFCU) is proud to announce a new multi-year partnership with the Knoxville Ice Bears hockey team, extending through their 2029-2030 season. The beloved hometown team will now play on official UT Federal Credit Union Home Ice at the Knoxville Civic Coliseum.

“We’re thrilled to be the ‘Official Credit Union of the Knoxville Ice Bears,’” said UT Federal Credit Union President and CEO Kenyon Warren. “This collaboration strengthens our commitment to the Knoxville community. Together, we will create meaningful experiences that demonstrate the value of partnership between a hometown credit union and a hometown team.”

Warren helped usher in this new partnership by dropping the puck at the Ice Bears’ opening night game on Friday, October 24, 2025, as the team kicked off its 24th season. Serving Knoxville since 1969, UT Federal Credit Union is proud to embark on a collaboration founded on shared values with a fellow East Tennessee institution. Together, UTFCU and the Ice Bears aim to continually elevate the region through financial empowerment, hometown pride, and memorable fan experiences.

“We are excited to enter into this partnership with UT Federal Credit Union ahead of our 24th season,” said Ice Bears President and CEO Mike Murray. “We pride ourselves on being a longtime staple in this community, and having partners like UTFCU that are committed to making this community greater is always a goal of ours. We’re incredibly grateful for our partners that enable us to continue bringing a high-quality, entertaining, and family-friendly product to the city of Knoxville.”

As part of the partnership, UTFCU and the Ice Bears will introduce:

  • Community programs focused on financial education for fans, players, and staff
  • Exclusive perks for UTFCU members, including ticket offers and fan experiences
  • Expanded brand presence, including UTFCU as the presenting sponsor of Ice Bears radio broadcasts and at Civic Coliseum events

This partnership marks the start of a long-term effort to strengthen and uplift East Tennessee, both on and off the ice. In true Ice Bears fashion, UTFCU is proud to say it’s not just member-obsessed — it’s officially “MemBear”-obsessed!

Smokies to remain open through Jan. 4 with basic services and limited staffing

Posted on October 31, 2025 by - Uncategorized

deer jumping

Amid the ongoing federal government shutdown, the nonprofit Friends of the Smokies will continue to provide funding to ensure Great Smoky Mountains National Park remains open with basic visitor services and limited staffing from Nov. 3, 2025, through Jan. 4, 2026. The latest agreement allows the popular Cades Cove Loop Road to remain open to the public along with all visitor centers and picnic areas that are normally open this time of year.

Friends of the Smokies joined a partnership of state and local entities that funded the reopening and full staffing of the national park from Oct. 4 through Nov. 2. During that time, all furloughed park employees returned to work, received paychecks, and continued their efforts to serve visitors and protect the park during the busiest tourism month of the year. Great Smoky Mountains National Park attracts an average of more than 1.6 million visitors each October.

As the national park transitions to a relatively slower visitation season, the latest agreement from Nov. 3, 2025, through Jan. 4, 2026, will reduce the funded staff positions to those directly related to basic visitor services. Many park employees will be furloughed if the shutdown continues beyond Nov. 2.

The official agreement to keep the park open is specifically between Sevier County Government and the National Park Service. Under the arrangement, Sevier County pays the federal government directly and the other partners pay their share to Sevier County. The funding effort has been supported by Sevier County, the cities of Gatlinburg, Sevierville, Pigeon Forge, Blount County, the State of Tennessee’s Department of Tourism, the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, and Friends of the Smokies.

Under the Nov. 3 through Jan. 4 agreement, the total cost to keep the park open with basic services and reduced staffing is approximately $80,000 per week. The State of Tennessee will contribute $25,000 of that weekly total while the remaining seven partners provide $7,000 weekly. Fees collected by the national park for recreation and parking will also be used to fund essential operations.

“This is a tough time for our partners in the national park,” said Dana Soehn, President and CEO of Friends of the Smokies. “Friends of the Smokies is proud to help fund staffing through the holidays so emergency services, restrooms, and visitor centers can remain open when visitation is high. Still, we’re deeply saddened that critical work – treating hemlocks, repairing trails, and preserving historic cabins will pause due to furloughed staff. Caring for this park is year-round work, and the best news will be a fully funded park with an end to the shutdown.”

The upcoming nine-week agreement ensures previously planned events will continue even if the shutdown persists. That includes the Cades Cove Loop Lope 10-mile and 5K race scheduled Nov. 9, 2025. The race is one of the major annual fundraisers for Friends of the Smokies and is the only official footrace held inside the national park. The event sold out within 24 hours when registration opened in June and attracted participants from 28 different states.

There are also several school activities scheduled in the national park in November. The agreement provides funding for the park’s education staff to work part-time during those student events to allow them to continue as planned. Special use permits for weddings and other previously scheduled events will also be allowed to proceed.

Restrooms, campgrounds, picnic areas, and visitor centers will remain open and accessible to the public on the park’s normal seasonal schedule. Parking tags will still be available for purchase and are required for anyone parking in the Smokies for more than 15 minutes.

Please note there are many seasonal closings that naturally occur in Great Smoky Mountains National Park regardless of the shutdown. That includes several campgrounds, picnic areas, and roads that close during the colder months. See the park’s seasonal facility schedule for more details. Roads can also close in the park due to weather conditions, as is often the case at higher elevations such as Newfound Gap Road and Kuwohi Road. Check the park’s Current Conditions page for the latest closure information.

The Dialogue with Jay Chapman

Posted on October 30, 2025 by - Uncategorized

Jay Chapman
Jay Chapman

This feature is a question-and-answer session with a Blount County Chamber member. So, here we go with our 235th installment visiting with Jay Chapman, operations manager for Crate Pros which offers creative packaging solutions for difficult to ship items.

How did you get started? Having held diverse roles across multiple organizations, I’ve developed a deep passion for business operations. I’m drawn to the entire process—collaborating with people, establishing standards and workflows, and contributing to a product or service I genuinely believe in. Each experience has strengthened my appreciation for how thoughtful operations can drive efficiency, alignment, and impact.

What is your background? I bring over a decade of experience in management roles, along with five years of specialized expertise in the packaging industry. My background is particularly focused on custom projects, developing tailored solutions to meet unique customer needs. This experience aligns directly with the work we do at Crate Pros, allowing me to effectively translate client requests into practical solutions for complex packaging and shipping challenges.

Describe your customers: to the specialized nature of our business, we cater to a diverse clientele, which includes, but is not limited to, auction houses, medical device manufacturers, artists, technology companies, and automotive manufacturers.

What do you enjoy about this business? I take great pride in providing our customers with peace of mind by leveraging our expertise and passion for packaging. Collaborating with clients to find the ideal balance between their needs and our capabilities is what makes working at Crate Pros truly rewarding for me.

Chairman’s VIP Selection

Posted on October 21, 2025 by - Uncategorized

With the Chairman’s VIP member of the Blount County Chamber of Commerce, in 2026 you receive:

Eight uses of the Chamber boardroom. Contact Kasey Ferguson to schedule.

Six tickets to Taste of Blount, Hops in the Hills, Grains and Grits Spirits Festival. Contact Kelly Sentell to redeem.

Five email marketing campaigns. Contact Jeff Muir to schedule.

Your company receives two “Pay it forward membership” to a non-member for one year. Contact Tammi Ford for details.

Every effort will be made to accommodate your requests on a first-come, first-served basis. Should a sponsorship be unavailable, we’ll highlight your company via the chamber billboard, social media and newsletter.

Please select the event you would like to redeem your $2000 sponsorship voucher. It cannot be split up.

VIP Chairman

Chairman VIP members chose sponsorships.

Name(Required)
Sponsorship Voucher
Please select the event you would like to redeem your $2000 sponsorship voucher. It cannot be split up.

The Dialogue with Wil Davenport

Posted on October 21, 2025 by - Uncategorized

Wil Davenport

This feature is a question-and-answer session with a Blount County Chamber member. So, here we go with our 234th installment visiting with Wil Davenport, owner/lead facilitator/keynote speaker/emcee for It Begins Within – Developing Leaders which offers leadership development training experiences.

Wil Davenport

Describe more about your company. Training experiences can come in the form of team workshops, small group mentoring, and one-on-one coaching. I also deliver keynote speeches and work as an emcee at different events. Some of our most effective workshops include: 1) Navigating Difficult Conversations, 2) Cultivating Emotional Intelligence, and 3) Creating Effective “60-Second-Mini-Speeches” to share about your business.

We approach our work in two ways. First, we help businesses and organizations save money and build stronger teams by helping their employees develop effective communication and relational skills. As a result, they retain more employees, reduce unproductive worplace conflict, and building teams that communicate effectively internally and with vendors/customers. Second, we know that it’s what’s going on inside of each person, their mindset and inner dialogue, that often determines how much of their potential they can reach. We help leaders remove the psychological barriers that get in their way.

How did you get started? Since my college days I’ve been passionate about growing as a leader. I honed my leadership skill as a manager of a thriving Starbucks and as a ministry leader in a large Methodist Church. I’ve been leading workshops professionally and as a volunteer for years and my wife, Celeste, has often commented about the passion and energy I share with her after mentoring and/or training experiences. A few years ago she encouraged me to take the leap and start a business focused on leadership development. I leveraged the relations I’ve cultivated over the years to start It Begins Within- Developing Leaders.

What is your background? I gained the skills I use at It Begins Within-Developing Leaders through my experience Managing a Starbucks, leading a ministry team of over 100 monthly volunteers and many more for special events, and as an entrepreneur for the last decade. I am also certified as a Future of Strengths trainer, have a degree in Christian Education (including courses in instructional design and leadership), and have experience leading workshops with thousands of participants. Finally, I am a lifelong learner, continually finding ways to learn and grow as a leader and facilitator.

Who is your mentor? I’ve been blessed with several key mentors over the years. One, Mark Hoogerhyde, offered the accountability I needed to make important changes in my life and held me to a standard of excellence while I grew as a leader. A recent mentor, Kim Ballard, COO of the YMCA of East Tennessee, offers me ecouragement, as important questions, and offers a steady flow of ideas. Another mentor, Erin Daldry, a Kiwi from New Zealand, guided me into deep reflection on a variety of topics, challenging me to more beyond simplistic ideas, trite phrases, and self-centered ways of navigating the world.

Describe your customers: I often work with businesses and organizations that employee young leaders. My goal is to remove barriers for these young leaders so that the arc of their professional journey grows, while making them more effective leaders where they work. The folks I work with care about investing in their teams. They want their employees to know they are valued.

What are three things you wish you knew when you started? 1) Building a business is like boiling water. Like room temperature H20, a lot of energy is invested with no noticeable change in the business/water. But at some point, a magical temperature/moment is reached and then everything changes. That when the powerful steam of business creates momentum and growth.
2) How long it can take to begin building a stable income.
3) How enjoyable it can build to build your networking and cultivate significant personal and professional relationships.

What do you enjoy most about your profession? I enjoy getting to be creative developing workshops and other content. Watching leaders actively engaging the material and making changes in their lives and how they go about their work. Building genuine relationships with so many people.