News Roundup | Fish, foundations, and faith
Here’s your weekly roundup of business news from throughout the Knoxville region.
Bassmaster Classic fishing tournament returns to Knoxville
The 2023 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic® presented by Toyota returns to the Tennessee River!
The prestigious championship bass tournament — widely known as the “Super Bowl of Bass Fishing” — will be held March 24-26 in downtown Knoxville and on the University of Tennessee Campus. The Bassmaster Classic pits 55 of the world’s best bass anglers against one another for the title of Bassmaster Classic Champion. The Classic is a catch-and-release event, with bass being returned to the fishery under the supervision of the TWRA.
On March 24 – 26, daily takeoffs will begin at 7:30 a.m. at Volunteer Landing in downtown Knoxville. Weigh-ins will take place at 3:30 p.m. each day in the Thompson-Boling Arena on the University of Tennessee campus. The fan-favorite Bassmaster Classic Outdoors Expo will be held Friday through Sunday, March 24-26, in the Knoxville Convention Center and the adjacent World’s Fair Exhibition Hall.
All activities and venues are free and open to the public.
East Tennessee Foundation appoints new President
Keith Barber, Ed.D., will serve as the East Tennessee Foundation’s (ETF) next President and CEO. Barber’s tenure is planned to begin in mid-April.
He dedicated 30 years of his career to the enhancement of higher education through philanthropy and volunteerism. Most recently, as Vice Chancellor of Institutional Advancement for the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture and the UT Foundation for ten years, he and his team raised over $250 million.
“I recognize gracious investors, engaged volunteers, and resilient nonprofit partners contribute to the value and quality of life in East Tennessee,” said Barber. “I look forward to the honor of leading East Tennessee Foundation’s team of professionals, along with the support of our board of directors, as we continue to pursue our vision of thriving communities powered by thoughtful giving.”
Jeanette Kelleher, who has been serving as Interim President and CEO and has been employed by the Foundation for nearly 20 years, will return to her role as ETF’s Executive Vice President.
Ministry Brands launches new ShareFaith Media Marketplace
Knoxville-based Ministry Brands, the leading provider of software and services for faith-based, non-profit, and other purpose-driven organizations, announced the relaunch of ShareFaith Media, a ready-to-use library of digital church content. This relaunch comes with a significant upgrade to search capabilities, user interface, and pricing flexibility.
With this relaunch of ShareFaith Media, church leaders can easily access a vast collection of high-quality resources including worship content, graphics, videos, social content, curriculum, print materials, and more – all tailored to help churches plan meaningful services that engage members and strengthen communities. Offering all these assets in one place saves church leaders time and effort without sacrificing quality.
“We are excited to offer all churches a simple, affordable solution to enhance their worship experience and engage members of all ages,” said Ministry Brands CEO Pat O’Donnell. “We believe the new ShareFaith Media will make it significantly easier for churches to prepare for Sundays.”
ShareFaith Media’s new credit-based pricing plans provide flexible, affordable options for churches of all sizes, allowing churches to easily access the resources needed, without breaking the bank or committing to a long-term subscription.
ORAU names new Chief of Staff
Oak Ridge Associated Universities has named Ken Tarcza as its new Chief of Staff. The West Point graduate retired from military service in 2015 and joined the U.S. Army Research Laboratory at Aberdeen Proving Ground before being named Manager for the Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge Office and Office of Science Integrated Support Center/Consolidated Service Center in 2016.
