PepsiCo Americas Foods, Inc. CEO John Compton recently spoke to a sold-out crowd of regional business leaders at the kick-off to the Chamber’s execUTive Luncheon series. The Compton event was sponsored by Pilot Travel Centers, LLC. Compton, a 1983 graduate of the University of Tennessee’s College of Business Administration, urged Knoxville business leaders to do what they do best, lead.

Knoxville, TN (Nov. 18) – With wide-eyed, energetic enthusiasm, Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, Inc. executives held a grand opening and ribbon-cutting at the company’s 334,000 square foot facility in Knox County today.

The national economy has slowed - there's no doubt about it and no way to sugarcoat it. Fortunately, the Knoxville economy has not been hit as hard, but we have certainly seen some effects. During these difficult economic times, what do you do? How do you make smart business decisions? Is there a way to thrive?

The Knoxville Chamber is happy to provide some tips in a handy booklet. To download a copy please click here.

The Knoxville Chamber Existing Industry Program, serving the Knoxville/Knox County area, has been recognized at the Synchronist Users’ Forum in Chicago, IL Oct. 6th, for its positive impact on existing businesses.

Chamber U workshops educate small business owners and general businesspeople on topics such as marketing, sales, technology and personal development. If you consider yourself an expert on a business-related topic and want to share your knowledge with membership, download the application and submit it prior to December 17.

Mike Edwards, President & CEO of the Knoxville Chamber, recently made a presentation at the 2008 Summit on Economic and Workforce Development in Oklahoma City. The talk stressed the fact that education is extremely important to America’s economic future and discussed how the Knoxville Chamber engaged the business community in addressing scholastic improvement.

Click here to download the presentation:

Pilot Travel Centers LLC celebrates its 50th year today, October 24, 2008. The company, headquartered in Knoxville, TN, is a strong corporate citizen and helps support local businesses, nonprofits, and other community initiatives. Pilot is a proud member of the Knoxville Chamber.

The Knoxville Chamber works exclusively with SouthComm Publishing, a proud Chamber member, on the production of its annual guide for newcomers and others interested in relocating to the Knoxville area. This guide is a valuable resource for new employees and families coming to East Tennessee and helps them establish customer relationships that last for quite a while. Advertising sales for the publication will begin on November 3, 2008.

The Chamber staff has recently heard from several members about calls from another company claiming to be working with the Knoxville Chamber on a similar publication. The Knoxville Chamber is NOT working with United Metro Works, Inc The company has been informed to immediately refrain from making such claims.

Doug Lawyer, Knoxville Chamber's Economic Development Director, will be taking a trip with Governor Bredesen's group to Germany to meet with Volkswagen and their suppliers.

He will be sending periodic updates back to the Chamber, which we will post here and on the Chamber blog and here.

• Day 5: Final Meetings and Wrapup
• Day 4: Meeting Suppliers
• Day 3: Meeting VW in Wolfsburg
• Day 2: Travel and Anticipation
• Chamber's ED Director Begins Blogging from Germany

DuPont Danisco Cellulosic Ethanol LLC (DDCE) and the University of Tennessee (UT) Research Foundation broke ground on a biorefinery and research and development facility for cellulosic ethanol.

For more information, read the news release from the University of Tennessee.