Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce Archives

Small businesses, business leaders honored

Posted at 9:03 am June 14, 2019
By Kathy Gillenwaters Leave a Comment

Lisa Copeland, CNS Y-12 small business program manager, presents the CNS Small Business of the Year award to Diana Tremaine and Darrin Lawrence of ARS Aleut Remediation. (Submitted photo)

Consolidated Nuclear Security, UT-Battelle, and the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce recently honored local business leaders and outstanding small businesses. The three entities annually sponsor a Celebrate Oak Ridge Business breakfast in May.

ARS International LLC was awarded the Small Business of the Year designation by Consolidated Nuclear Security. ARS is an Alaskan native corporation, small disadvantaged business, and is a wholly owned subsidiary of The Aleut Corporation, a press release said. ARS has provided services to the U.S. Department of Energy, Department of Defense, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and commercial industries in the form of hazardous material remediation, laboratory analysis, and construction/demolition services, a press release said.

UT-Battelle named Kelsan as its Small Business of the Year. Kelsan provides its customers with the region’s largest selection of sanitary maintenance-related products and consistently ranks as the southeast’s leading “Jan-San” distributor, the press release said. [Read more…]

Ninth graduating class of Youth Leadership Oak Ridge

Posted at 8:33 am June 14, 2019
By Kathy Gillenwaters Leave a Comment

The 2018-2019 Youth Leadership Oak Ridge Class recently celebrated with a graduation ceremony. Youth Leadership Oak Ridge is a program of the Center for Leadership and Community Development, an affiliated organization of the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce. (Submitted photo)

Youth Leadership Oak Ridge, a program of the Center for Leadership and Community Development, an organization affiliated with the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce, recently had a graduation ceremony for its 2018/2019 class. The celebration was held at the DoubleTree by Hilton. Gene Patterson of Consolidated Nuclear Security offered the keynote speech, a press release said.

Youth Leadership Oak Ridge was started as the community project of the 2009 Leadership Oak Ridge class. Patterned after the adult program, but revised to reflect the interests of high school students, the program has just completed its ninth year, the press release said.

The class met most Wednesdays after school during the school year and covered topics related to personal skills development, entrepreneurship, government, and quality of life, the press release said. Each area of focus provided for interactive activities as well as advice and guidance from experts in those areas. [Read more…]

Chamber’s Spring Fling Primetime Event is Thursday

Posted at 1:36 pm April 23, 2019
By Kathy Gillenwaters Leave a Comment

The Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce Spring Fling Primetime will be held on Thursday, April 25, from 4-6 p.m. It is free to attend the event, and the public is invited, a press release said.

Primetime is the Chamber’s semi-annual networking event, but with some new and exciting additions, the press release said:

Live music by Twelve Years Truce
Food trucks, such as B&B BarBQ, with free samples
Free custard samples by Freddy’s Frozen Custard
Beer provided by Calhoun’s
Sidewalk chalk painting contest
Door prizes
Giveaways
Fun for the whole family

More than 40 Chamber-member organizations have already reserved exhibit space, the press release said. [Read more…]

Celebrate Oak Ridge Business Awards Breakfast to be held May 7

Posted at 2:46 pm April 15, 2019
By Kathy Gillenwaters Leave a Comment

Consolidated Nuclear Security, UT-Battelle, and the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce are joining together to host a breakfast in May to honor local business leaders and outstanding small businesses. May is National Small Business Month.

The honorees at the May 7 breakfast will be ARS International LLC, Karen Prillhart, Kelsan, Dustin Mackey, and Stephanie Hale-Smith of State Farm.

The Celebrate Oak Ridge Business awards breakfast will be held from 7:30-9 a.m. Tuesday, May 7, at the Doubletree by Hilton.

To reserve a spot at the breakfast, visit the Oak Ridge Chamber’s website at www.oakridgechamber.org. [Read more…]

‘Atomic Integration,’ photo exhibit on African-American life in Manhattan Project, opens Friday

Posted at 2:40 pm February 5, 2019
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Photo by Ed Westcott via National Park Service

In honor of Black History Month, the Oak Ridge History Museum will host “Atomic Integration,” a photography exhibition focusing on African-American life during the Manhattan Project in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, a press release said.

The exhibit will open on Friday, February 8, and it will be open every Friday and Saturday during the month of February, the press release said.

The photo exhibit was developed under sponsorship by the National Park Service, U.S. Department of Energy, Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce, and Explore Oak Ridge.

The images that will be displayed in the photo exhibit illustrate the experiences and contributions of African-Americans during the Manhattan Project period during the 1940s in Oak Ridge, the press release said. [Read more…]

Planning Commission to hear 2030 strategy for City Center

Posted at 10:07 am January 10, 2019
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

The Oak Ridge Municipal Planning Commission will hear a 2030 strategy for the Oak Ridge City Center in a meeting this evening (Thursday, January 10).

The presentation, titled “Oak Ridge City Center, a 2030 Strategy,” is scheduled to start at 5:30 p.m. at the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce. The presentation will be given by Phil Enquist of Skidmore, Owings, and Merrill.

Also on the agenda for this evening are a review of the City Blueprint; a re-subdivision for Clark’s Preserve, a residential development; and master plan amendments for Clark’s Preserve and The Preserve at Clinch River.

More than 100 entries to participate in Oak Ridge Chamber’s Christmas Parade

Posted at 2:17 pm December 3, 2018
By Kathy Gillenwaters Leave a Comment

Last year's Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce's annual Christmas Parade was Saturday, Dec. 10, 2016. (File photo by Eli Welton)

Part of the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce’s annual Christmas Parade is pictured above on Saturday, Dec. 10, 2016. (File photo by Eli Welton)

More than 100 organizations and individuals have already registered to be a part of the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce’s annual Christmas Parade to be held on Saturday, December 8. This year’s theme is “A Fantasy of Lights,” and it promises to provide spectators with plenty of music, lights, and beautiful floats, a press release said. The first official entry of the parade is always a crowd favorite: the award-winning Oak Ridge High School Marching Band.

Other entries will include skaters, adoptable animals, antique and classic vehicles, dancers, horses, and much more, the press release said. All of these entries help lead the way for the most important part of the parade: the arrival of Santa Claus in Oak Ridge. Santa will be helped along his way by the Oak Ridge Fire Department.

Sponsor of this year’s parade is The Cowperwood Company. There is no cost to participate.

The Chamber will be accepting entries online through Monday, December 3. Register by visiting the Chamber’s website at www.oakridgechamber.org. [Read more…]

Election 2018: Progress PAC endorsements for City Council, School Board

Posted at 8:38 am November 6, 2018
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Note This story was updated at 10 a.m.

Four candidates for Oak Ridge City Council and all three candidates running for Oak Ridge Board of Education running in the election today (Tuesday, November 6) have earned endorsements by Progress PAC.

Three City Council incumbents—Oak Ridge Mayor Warren Gooch, Ellen Smith, and Kelly Callison—received the PAC endorsements as did Tim Stallings, who previously served on the City Council in the 1990s.

School Board candidates Laura McLean, Ben Stephens, and Erin Webb—who are all serving on the BOE now and are running unopposed—also received the political action committee’s nod, a press release said.

Progress PAC, which was created by the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce but which operates independently, endorses City Council and School Board candidates who ask for the committee’s support and who are supportive of the Chamber’s mission, vision, and key legislative priorities, the press release said. [Read more…]

Meet candidates for public office at Chamber on Tuesday

Posted at 1:46 pm October 14, 2018
By Kathy Gillenwaters Leave a Comment

You can meet candidates for public office in Oak Ridge on Tuesday.

The event, called “Popcorn and Politics,” will be at the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce from 4:30-6 p.m. Tuesday, October 16. It’s hosted by the Chamber’s Advocacy Committee. It will give the community the opportunity to meet candidates running for office in the November 6 election, a press release said.

All local candidates, as well as candidates running for state legislative offices and federal offices, have been invited to participate, the press release said. The event will be held in the Joyce Conference Room at the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce at 1400 Oak Ridge Turnpike.

“The public is invited to come meet the candidates,” the press release said. [Read more…]

Oak Ridge Chamber to host information session on changing retail market

Posted at 3:23 pm September 20, 2018
By Kathy Gillenwaters Leave a Comment

The Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce building is pictured above.

Retail Strategies, a national retail real estate consulting firm that partners with cities across the nation to expand retail opportunities, will have representatives in Oak Ridge on September 25, a press release said.

Retail Strategies will offer brief on-site consulting services for retail property owners/managers during the day on a first-come, first-served basis.

From 4-5:30 p.m., representatives of the firm will be on hand for an information session detailing Oak Ridge’s changing retail market, trade area, trends, and targets, the press release said. The session will take place at TownePlace by Marriott, which is 300 South Rutgers Avenue. The session will be hosted by the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce and the Oak Ridge Economic Development Initiative. [Read more…]

Meet candidates at Popcorn & Politics on Monday

Posted at 1:24 pm June 20, 2018
By Kathy Gillenwaters Leave a Comment

You can meet candidates for county and state elected offices at Popcorn and Politics at the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce on Monday.

It’s scheduled from 4:30-6 p.m. Monday, June 25. It’s hosted by the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce’s Advocacy Committee. Popcorn and Politics will give you a chance to meet candidates running for office in the August election, a press release said.

“All local candidates as well as candidates running for state legislative offices have been invited to participate,” the press release said.

The public is invited. There is no charge to attend, but a reservation is requested. The event will be held in the Joyce Conference Room at the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce, 1400 Oak Ridge Turnpike. [Read more…]

Chamber’s Primetime event is Thursday; public invited

Posted at 3:19 am April 15, 2018
By Kathy Gillenwaters Leave a Comment

Participants at the Spring 2017 Primetime Fiesta event are pictured above. This year’s Fiesta will be held on Thursday, April 19, 2018, from 4-6 p.m in the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce Parking lot. The event is free and open to the public. (Submitted photo)

The Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce Spring Primetime networking opportunity is Thursday, and the public is invited to attend, a press release said.

More than 45 Chamber-member organizations have already reserved exhibit space for the event, which is titled “Fiesta Primetime.” Primetime will be held under the tent in the parking lot of the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce at 1400 Oak Ridge Turnpike.

Primetime is one of the Chamber’s biggest networking events of the year. There is no charge to attend. Anyone—Chamber member or not—is encouraged to attend, the press release said.

Primetime will from 4-6 p.m. Thursday, April 19. [Read more…]