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Click to view the online version of the Blount Partnership weekly newsletter for December 11, 2023.

Window Hero West Knoxville owner Ben Brown was awarded the Rookie of the Year for his Window Hero location at the franchise’s parent company’s first franchisee convention earlier this month.

HomeFront Brands, the property service franchise platform with six emerging concepts in its portfolio, hosted its inaugural convention, entitled “Homecoming,” at the company’s headquarters outside of Charlotte, North Carolina earlier this month. The conference brought together franchisees, corporate employees and vendor partners to celebrate HomeFront Brands’ impressive growth since its inception in late 2022.

Brown’s commitment to his community helped him earn his Rookie of the Year Award. In the eight months his location has been open, he has cleaned the exteriors of five schools in his service area. His Window Hero location provided this service for free with the goal of revitalizing the appearance of these schools’ campuses.

“Ben’s dedication to his community and his support for local schools is a shining example of what can be achieved through hard work and determination,” said HomeFront Brands Chairman and CEO Jeff Dudan. “Our Homecoming Convention served as an example of HomeFront Brands’ remarkable growth since our founding in 2022. We owe some of our tremendous success to Ben Brown’s exceptional character and commitment to our core values.”

The Rookie of the Year Award recognizes a newcomer who displays remarkable promise, adaptability and a tireless work ethic despite being in the early stages of their ownership journey. HomeFront Brands bestowed Rookie of the Year awards to a franchise owner of each of its four core brands: Window Hero, The Designery, Top Rail Fence and Temporary Wall Systems.

“I’ve always sought opportunities to give back to my community,” Brown said. “When I opened my Window Hero location, I knew I wanted to establish my company as a source in providing a reliable service to my clients while also helping those in need. It’s an honor to receive this award and I hope to continue to deliver exceptional performance as a HomeFront Brands franchise member.”

Brown’s service-oriented approach has long been a part of his personality. He and his wife, Brittany, have always been active in their community and are the engaged parents of Cooper, Hutch and Caroline. He also coaches several of his sons’ sports teams and is active in the family’s church.

Window Hero West Knoxville serves clients in Concord, Farragut and West Knoxville. For more information about Window Hero West Knoxville, please visit https://windowhero.com/locations/west-knoxville/.

Click to view the online version of the Blount Partnership weekly newsletter for December 4, 2023.

Click to view the online version of the Blount Partnership weekly newsletter for November 20, 2023.

To help provide equitable learning access and opportunities and keep local youth connected, UScellular has donated more than 1,068 wireless hotspots and 21 total years of service, valued at over $1.3 million, to nonprofits across Tennessee as part of its After School Access Project. UScellular’s After School Access Project provides free mobile hotspots and service to nonprofits that support youth after the school day has ended and provides safe internet access for homework and education.

The hotspots provided to the nonprofits connect to UScellular’s wireless network to provide high-speed connectivity for youth while at the facilities and at the homes of members who check out the devices.

“Connecting people and communities is our mission and the After School Access Project is just one way that we’re helping ensure youth have the reliable access they need to grow and pursue their dreams,” said Thomas White, director of sales for East Tennessee at UScellular. “We encourage Tennessee non-profit organizations to apply for this program and help us bring reliable wireless internet access to youth across America.”

UScellular donated hotspots and service to more than nine local nonprofits, including Boys & Girls Clubs of the Tennessee Valley, YWCA of Knoxville & the Tennessee Valley, Nourish Knoxville and Junior Achievement of East Tennessee to help youth connect to the internet. This year, UScellular donated to Tennessee Golf Foundation’s First Tee program, a youth development organization that enables kids to build the strength of character that empowers them through a lifetime of new challenges, and Second Harvest Food Bank of East Tennessee.

“We work with over 630 community partners including food pantries, schools, churches and after-school programs to provide food, services and education to address the nutritional needs of all people at risk of hunger,” said Elaine Streno, executive director of Second Harvest Food Bank of East Tennessee. “Many of the clients we serve live in a ‘food and internet desert,’ meaning areas that have limited access to affordable and nutritious food as well as internet access. We are grateful to help overcome barriers to internet access, providing an opportunity for a brighter future with UScellular’s After School Access Program.”

Since 2021, the company has donated more than $12 million supporting more than 100 organizations with hotspots and service nationwide. In early 2023, UScellular extended its pledge and committed up to $13 million in new funding to the program.

Non-profits that meet the following criteria can apply at afterschoolaccessproject.com:

• Certified 501(c)(3) non-profit organization
• Operate within UScellular’s service area
• Focused on kindergarten through 12th grade
• Not a school or government entity

UScellular is focused on addressing gaps in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education and is committed to connecting more than 200,000 of tomorrow’s innovators each year with the resources they need today to help shape future opportunities. Since 2009, UScellular has invested more than $35 million in monetary donations, technology resources and countless experiences to nonprofit organizations across the country.

Click to view the online version of the Blount Partnership weekly newsletter for November 13, 2023.

Johnson Architecture has earned national honors from Spaces4Learning for the firm’s education facility designs of Lakeway Christian Academy and the University of Tennessee’s Rocky Top Dining Hall.

The design of Lakeway Christian Academy, located in White Pine, Tennessee, earned the grand prize for K-12 new construction in Education Design Showcase. Rocky Top Dining Hall received the project of distinction award for higher education new construction.

Education Design Showcase winners entries were judged by a jury of administrators, architects and facility planners for excellence in design and functional planning for education.

“This award is shared by Johnson Architecture and our partners on the Lakeway Christian Academy and Rocky Top Dining Hall projects,” said Daryl Johnson, founder and president of the Knoxville-based firm. “As we designed these projects, the intent was to create functional, cost-effective and secure environments for the students. We fully appreciate this recognition in the Education Design Showcase.”

Lakeway Christian Academy includes a 202,740-square-foot high school and middle school with an auxiliary gymnasium, 1,500-seat gymnasium, modern classrooms and a performing arts center that accommodates 1,200. These areas meet educational needs through engaging learning environments, places for physical activity and sports, and spaces to foster creativity through various performing arts.

An adjacent sports complex includes a 30,500-square-foot fieldhouse with indoor practice facilities, 2,000-seat football stadium, baseball and softball fields, tennis courts and a track. The structures coordinate with the surrounding landscape while offering a modern aesthetic. Johnson Architecture developed a 43-acre site for the campus, delivering a design with functional elements to meet the client’s goals.

Rocky Top Dining Hall is a state-of-the-art facility and the anchor and hub of student life for the West Campus Redevelopment project. The structure includes a 1,200-seat dining hall, campus bakery, Chick-fil-A restaurant, convenience store and 50-foot vaulted main dining room with a massive, exposed brick fireplace and chimney.

Since the building needed to fit with the Gothic architectural style of the UT campus and be stable, durable, beautiful and able to withstand East Tennessee’s diverse climate, cladding the facility in brick was a natural design choice for longevity.

Click to view the online version of the Blount Partnership weekly newsletter for November 6, 2023.

Click to view the online version of the Blount Partnership weekly newsletter for October 30, 2023.