Success could mean up to 200 local production jobs Story and photos by Jeff Keeling Their blue-clad components in various states of exposure, Michael Garrabrant's “babies” receive some last-minute testing and adjustment in a Johnson City shop. A handful of engineers and technicians tweak and monitor the four gas heat pumps connected to 80-gallon water heaters before their big debut in Pacific Northwest test ...

By Scott Robertson Two engineering firms that have taken part in several major projects in the Tri-Cities over the last few years are merging. S&ME, which has a Tri-Cities office on Eastern Star Road in Kingsport, is acquiring Littlejohn Engineering, which has an office on Sunset Drive in Johnson City, as a wholly owned subsidiary. S&ME is headquartered in Raleigh. Littlejohn is headquartered in Nas ...

By Scott Robertson Before the Tennessee General Assembly gets down to regular business this year, it will already have debated what is likely to be one of the most contentious issues it will face. Governor Bill Haslam has called a special session during which no other issues may be discussed in order to vote his Insure Tennessee plan up or down. That session is slated to begin at 4 p.m., Feb.2. “If you had ...

Credit union CEO serving on CFPB advisory council By Jeff Keeling ‘From the conservative side, I’m not wild about the big government piece. But seeing the Consumer Finance Protection Bureau from the inside, I’m very impressed with how conscientiously they’re proceeding with their mission.’ Ron Scott A credit union executive based in the Tri-Cities is now serving on the Consumer Finance Protection Bureau adv ...