Tag: Chamber of Commerce

UScellular Donations surpass $1.3 Million in Wireless Hotspots and Service to Tennessee Nonprofits

Posted on November 17, 2023 by - Uncategorized

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.

Johnson Architecture earns national recognition

Posted on November 6, 2023 by - Uncategorized

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.

The Dialogue with Jackson Greene

Posted on October 15, 2023 by - Uncategorized

This feature is a question-and-answer session with a new Blount County Chamber member. So, here we go with our 201st installment visiting with Jackson Greene, owner of Pursuit Digital which is a full-service digital marketing agency with a focus on web design, social media, and video production.

Describe more about your business. The vast majority of our clients work with us on multiple different projects, as we pride ourselves on being a one-stop shop and building client relationships. Relationships are the foundation of everything we stand for at Pursuit Digital, meaning that our focus will always be on supporting the people we have the pleasure of working with. We like to say that “OUR mission is YOUR mission.” 

How did you get started? During my first semester at MTSU, I took a job with a Maryville-based luxury home builder as their director of marketing. After working for just a few short months, they encouraged me to begin my own agency and take them on as my first client. Initially, entrepreneurship had never piqued my interest. However, with their guidance and encouragement, I made the decision to launch my own digital marketing firm halfway through my freshman year of college.

What is your background? I’ve always had a fascination with technology and media, which led to me taking a position as the director of media ministries at my home church before leaving for college. Through that position, I was blessed to receive an enormous amount of real-world experience in both technology and leadership, which solidified my desire to continue working in media moving forward.

Describe your customers. We work with everyone from non-profits to multi-million dollar businesses helping them achieve different facets of their marketing. Our objective is to provide excellent service while building relationships. People always come before profits, and we structure everything we do in a way that benefits all parties involved. To do this, we create and tailor customized packages and plans for each client to ensure they are getting the best for their unique needs.

What do you enjoy about your business? I love the different challenges every day brings, the different people I get to meet, and the different industries I get to learn. My job is never the same and that makes it tremendously rewarding!