Rural manufacturer finds ‘sew’ many savings with energy efficiency upgrades Located in rural Rockwood, Tennessee, Albahealth is the largest manufacturer of “patient safety footwear” in the world. While those thick socks with the rubber pattern on the sole is their main product, they knit and dye a variety of disposable medical apparel, including compression sleeves
Read more
Taking Her Home-Based Business to a Main Street Mainstay After years of frequenting the local farmers market, Hannah McConnell turned her lifelong passion for baking into a home-based business and opened a booth for “Sugar Mama’s” on Market Square. From there, McConnell sold baked goods at special events hosted by local craft breweries. Blame it
Read more
Putting an entrepreneur in the express lane to success Miguel “Mike” Saavedra’s passion for cars comes from a childhood spent “wrenching” with his stepdad in the garage. Growing up in Los Angeles, Saavedra faced the misconception that as a Latino, he’d never rise above the station of laborer. “That was a problem for me,” says
Read more
Powering a small business to help disabled veterans A lifelong cyclist, Mark Power built his first recumbent bike for his wife while stationed in Germany. The second was for himself so she wouldn’t feel self-conscious on their rides. This new hobby became a business and the veteran never looked back. “I had so much trouble
Read more
Occupational & Speech Therapists Double Their Impact on the Community When Nat Udwin and Barb Talbert moved to Nashville four years ago, the occupational clinic they envisioned didn’t exist. “My parents were small business owners, my grandparents were small business owners,” says Udwin. “So I’ve always had the mindset that if it doesn’t exist, you
Read more
Flexible funding fuels innovation for Oak Ridge manufacturer Jeff Bohanan always wanted to be an entrepreneur, and used his years of engineering experience at Y-12 to start a consulting business. From there, Bohanan moved into component manufacturing after winning a contract with Mercedes Benz – to the tune of a million parts within five years. “It
Read more
Advancing a mission of stewardship by investing in energy efficiency The Crown College of the Bible is a private, nonprofit Christian college located in East Tennessee. Since opening its doors in 1991, the college has grown to an enrollment of more than 800 students in various fields of study through in their School of Ministry,
Read more
Seasoned entrepreneur buys local dry cleaning shop with help of business acquisition loan Kevin Robertson is by definition an entrepreneur: he’s an electrical engineer who co-founded a firm, he’s a singer and drummer with his own label, and he has a Master’s in education from Belmont and has taught for many years. Throughout his career,
Read more
Pathway Lending helps entrepreneur expand cabins and offer glamping in East Tennessee Retired international business consultant Ilaeka Villa left Paris, France for the foothills of the Smokies in Rhea County, Tennessee. Together with her father, “Papa Phil,” she opened Grandview Mountain Cottages with two cottages and their Farm Porch Store, and has enjoyed welcoming visitors for
Read more
CDFI and bank partner and help manufacturer bring 165 jobs to rural Tennessee Entrepreneurs think big. They dream, plan, and execute strategies to build and sustain thriving businesses. Jeff VanHoose is one such entrepreneur. His business, VanHooseCo Precast Concrete, started small but scaled quickly following the 2008 Great Recession, as it added new divisions and
Read more