News & Notes | UT System sees a more than $37 million cut in federal research funding
The board of directors of the Greater Nashville Technology Council has selected Mark Blaze as the organization’s new President and Chief Executive Officer.
From Knoxville:
Multiple media outlets report that the University of Tennessee (UT) System has had more than $37 million in research grants terminated by the Trump Administration thus far. As of April 9, those included 25 terminations at the Knoxville campus and eight at the UT Institute of Agriculture. According to an article in the Knoxville News Sentinel, the UT Health Science Center and UT Chattanooga each had four terminations, while the UT Institute for Public Service had one.
The board of directors of the Greater Nashville Technology Council (NTC) has selected Mark Blaze as the organization’s new President and Chief Executive Officer. A seasoned executive with extensive experience in tech sales, business development and strategic growth leadership, Blaze will assume his new role on May 12, 2025.
“Mark is the right person to champion and advocate for the tech council,” said Rod McDaniel, Chairman of the NTC Board of Directors. “Middle Tennessee is a tech hub, and we will lean on his experience to engage with the tech community in our city. The NTC has a lot of existing innovative programs, and we look forward to Mark being the spokesperson who articulates the benefits of partnering with our organization. We received applicants from across the country for this position. We know that Mark is embedded in the Nashville community and is poised to quickly establish and bolster collaborative relationships with key leaders across healthcare, education, government, and other sectors that make our city thrive.”
Blaze brings a wealth of experience to the tech council, having served as Chief Revenue Officer at Groove Construction and Regional President at Dex Imaging, the nation’s largest independent provider of office technology. His leadership has been recognized with numerous awards, including the Nashville Emerging Leader Award in Business & Entrepreneurship and the Betty Dickens Lifetime Achievement Award from Rocketown. Blaze has also been an active board member of several community organizations, previously served on the boards of Nashville Predators Foundation and Rocketown.
Two more from Nashville:
Pathway Lending has issued its 2024 Annual Report, showcasing how the organization put capital to work funding $61.3 million for more than 184 clients through small business, affordable housing, sustainability, and place-based initiatives, with meaningful reach into rural and low-income communities.
“We are proud to highlight the ways we’re fueling local businesses and expanding economic opportunity across the region,” writes the nonprofit organization that started in Oak Ridge. “As a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI), we help fill key gaps in access to capital, offering flexible solutions where they are needed.”
The full report can be found here.
The Nashville Entrepreneur Center (EC) has announced that the deadline has been extended for nominations/applications for its annual NEXT Awards. The new date is now May 16.
More than 100 innovative Nashville businesses have already applied for the awards which include six categories of awards for: (1) start-up companies in business for five years or less; and (2) growth companies in business for more than five years. The EC will also be awarding two Individual Awards: (1) Start-up Entrepreneur of 2025; and (2) Growth Entrepreneur of 2025.
The event is set for October 20 at Schermerhorn Symphony Center.
To apply, click on this link. To nominate a company, click here.
From Chattanooga:
Those interested in electric vehicles (EVs) will gather in early June for an “EV 
.” Hosted by the Tennessee Automotive Manufacturers Association, the TriState Minority Development Council, and the Automotive Industry Action Group, the all-day event runs from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. EDT on June 5 at The Signal, 21 Choo Choo Avenue in Chattanooga.
As EVs, emerging technologies, and groundbreaking innovations continue to transform the automotive industry, the three groups are uniting leading industry experts to explore the latest advancements, research priorities, and workforce solutions – all through the lens of empowering diverse suppliers within the evolving EV landscape.
More information and a link to registration can be found here.
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