By Mary Trigiani As a two-time transplant to our region – first in 1966 and then in 2016 – I have always felt this is a place of accomplishment. Perhaps, as a child, it was the exposure to John Fox, Jr.’s work and life story, or having the renowned Virginia McChesney as my piano teacher, or learning about U2 pilot Francis Gary Powers’ roots in Wise County, or watching the football great Carroll Dale carry h ...

Crown has invested in some upgraded product lines over the past year, including this one. Photo courtesy Northeast Tennessee Regional Economic Partnership The fast-growing company – which partnered with private equity firm Hildred Capital Partners in late 2017 – last year became one of just 6 percent of companies to spend six consecutive years on Inc. Magazine’s “Inc. 5000” list of the nation’s fastest-grow ...

By Jeff Keeling Ballad Health’s operating income nearly quadrupled in its first full fiscal year after the Wellmont Health System-Mountain States Health Alliance merger following a strong fourth quarter (April-June). A report to bondholders showed $36.46 million in operating income for fiscal 2019, compared to $9.9 million for the fiscal year that ended June 30, 2018. Net patient service revenue was $26.5 m ...

Above: Richmond Fed President Tom Barkin. PHOTO BY KERI STEGALL Most people know the Federal Reserve Bank only as the “up-a-quarter-point, down-a quarter-point” institution. But, armed with a broader mandate and a serious question, Richmond Fed President and CEO Tom Barkin visited Abingdon, Va., Aug. 5 to hear from business, not-for-profit, and government leaders about the regional economy. “Our mandate inc ...

Left to right: Eric Deaton, Marvin Eichorn, Taylor Hamilton, Dr. Matthew Loos, Dr. Clay Runnels and Dr. Amit Vashist Three Ballad Health executives are taking on new titles and responsibilities in the C-suite. Eric Deaton has been named Ballad Health’s chief operating officer, with oversight of Ballad Health’s systemwide operations, including the newly created Behavioral Services Division. Previously, Deato ...

The Richard and Leslie Gilliam Foundation, which drew national headlines by donating more than $1 million directly to miners laid off by Blackjewel last month, presented the Southwest Virginia Workforce Development Board (SWVA WDB) with a $250,000 donation in a ceremony August 5 at the Virginia Career Works Center in Norton. The donation will be used to provide additional resources for miners that have been ...

Above: Tennessee Governor Bill Lee announces the state will fund $8.25 million for the Center over the next 10 years. PHOTO COURTESY ETSU By Scott Robertson Tennessee Governor Bill Lee announced July 16 the funding of a new Center for Rural Health Research to be housed at the East Tennessee State University College of Public Health and directed by Dr. Randy Wykoff, public health dean. The governor pledged t ...

By Laken DillowPhoto by Keri Stegall According to the Virginia Department of Education, fewer than half of high school graduates in Southwest Virginia either go on to technical training, higher education, or join the military. According to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation, Center for Education and Workforce, youth who are uninformed of potential local career pathways are more vulnerable to dropping o ...

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Tony Lettich, pictured above The Angel Roundtable, (ART) the angel investment network of the Appalachian Highlands, is pleased to announce an investment in ConverSight.ai, a leading national voice solutions-based AI platform with focuses in sales, manufacturing, transportation / supply chain, diagnostics and education. The company, which is based in Indianapolis, IN, offers enterprises and academia voice en ...