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Creswell leaving Roane Allliance

Posted at 11:10 am August 30, 2018
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

pat-postma-and-wade-creswell-young-professional-award-dec-9-2016-scaled

Pat Postma, left, presents the Postma Young Professional Medal to Wade Creswell, chief executive officer of Roane Alliance, during an East Tennessee Economic Council meeting on Friday, Dec. 9, 2016. (DOE photo courtesy Lynn Freeny)

Note: This story was updated at 2:25 p.m.

Wade Creswell, president and chief executive officer of Roane Alliance, is leaving his position to begin work with an area business. His last day at the Alliance will be September 21.

The departure was announced Wednesday by Chris Whaley, chair of the Roane Alliance Board of Directors.

Pam May, Roane Alliance vice president, will serve as interim president and CEO until the board decides on the long-term future of the position, a press release said.

“I would like to take this opportunity to express my appreciation of the great work that Wade has done in his four and a half years leading the Roane Alliance,” Whaley said in a statement sent to the Board of Directors for the Roane Alliance, Chamber of Commerce, and Industrial Development Board. “His passion, vision, and love for Roane County have fueled his tireless work for this county and region, and I sincerely appreciate all he has done.” [Read more…]

Filed Under: Business, Government, Roane County, Roane County, Top Stories Tagged With: Chris Whaley, Jim Palmer, Marilyn Calfee, Pam May, Roane Alliance, Roane County, Wade Creswell

Presentation on Oak Ridge Airport scheduled for Tuesday

Posted at 12:40 pm January 11, 2018
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Image from a Billy Stair presentation on the Oak Ridge Airport project to Roane County officials at the Roane County Courthouse in Kingston on Thursday, Dec. 7, 2017.

Image from a Billy Stair presentation on the Oak Ridge Airport project to Roane County officials at the Roane County Courthouse in Kingston on Thursday, Dec. 7, 2017.

 

A presentation that will provide information about the status of the Oak Ridge General Aviation Airport project has been scheduled for Tuesday evening.

The presentation is scheduled to start at 7 p.m. Tuesday, January 16, in the Robertsville Middle School Library. It’s part of a joint work session between the Oak Ridge City Council and Oak Ridge Board of Education that will begin at 6 p.m.

The airport presentation will be given by Billy Stair, aviation consultant, and Bill Marrison, president of the Metropolitan Knoxville Airport Authority. In December, Stair gave a presentation about the airport to Roane County officials.

After that meeting, Oak Ridge Today reported that Tennessee officials have appropriated $15 million that could be used for the proposed airport at Heritage Center, the former K-25 site in west Oak Ridge. The appropriation, which is pending approval of the Oak Ridge Airport by the Federal Aviation Administration, would be enough to cover about 33 percent to 38 percent of the current estimated project cost of $40 million to $45 million. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Business, Federal, Front Page News, Government, Oak Ridge, Oak Ridge, Roane County, Top Stories Tagged With: Appalachian Regional Commission, Bill Marrison, Billy Stair, City of Oak Ridge, Community Reuse Organization, CROET, FAA, Federal Aviation Administration, Heritage Center, John C. Schroer, K-25 site, Metropolitan Knoxville Airport Authority, Oak Ridge airport, Oak Ridge Board of Education, Oak Ridge City Council, Oak Ridge General Aviation Airport, Roane County, Robertsville Middle School, Steve Kelley, Tennessee Aeronautics Commission, Tennessee Department of Transportation, Tennessee General Assembly, The Roane Alliance, U.S. Department of Energy, Wade Creswell

Once like a small city, Happy Valley has been sold

Posted at 5:42 pm October 20, 2017
By John Huotari 2 Comments

An early aerial photo of Happy Valley, a construction camp that was like a small city and used to help build the former K-25 in west Oak Ridge. This picture was taken May, 22, 1944, by Ed Westcott, the official government photographer in Oak Ridge during World War II. (Photo courtesy Ed Westcott/Emily Hunnicutt)

An early aerial photo of Happy Valley, a construction camp that was like a small city and used to help build the former K-25 site in west Oak Ridge. This picture was taken May, 22, 1944, by Ed Westcott, the official government photographer in Oak Ridge during World War II. (Photo courtesy Ed Westcott/Emily Hunnicutt)

 

It was once home to a large construction camp that was like a small city and housed workers building K-25 during World War II.

Now the 160-acre parcel known as Happy Valley has been sold.

Happy Valley was in west Oak Ridge, across State Route 58 from the K-25 site. One of three major sites in Oak Ridge, K-25 was built to enrich uranium for atomic weapons as part of the top-secret Manhattan Project during World War II.

Today, Happy Valley appears to be mostly a rolling tree-covered landscape between Oak Ridge and Kingston along SR 58. To the public, there is little or no obvious evidence of what was once there—homes, a grocery store, schools, a post office, recreation halls, a gas station, and a bowling alley.

But those who have walked the property have seen evidence of the small city that was once there. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Business, Business, East Tennessee Technology Park, Federal, Front Page News, Government, K-25, Oak Ridge, Roane County, Slider, U.S. Department of Energy Tagged With: atomic weapons, Bionomics, City of Oak Ridge, David Bradshaw, DOE, East Tennessee Technology Park, Ed Westcott, General Services Administration, GSA, Happy Valley, History Channel, John McCormick, K-25, K-25 site, Lost Worlds, Manhattan Project, Oak Ridge, Parcel ED-3, Parcel ED-3 Western Expansion Area, Ray Smith, Roane Alliance, Roane County Register of Deeds, Roane County Sheriff's Department, Ron Woody, Secret Cities of the A-Bomb, Steve Goodpasture, U.S. Department of Energy, Wade Creswell, World War II

Roane Alliance contributes $10,000 to International Friendship Bell Fund

Posted at 6:59 am October 18, 2016
By Kay Brookshire Leave a Comment

roane-alliance-check-presentation-3

Steve Kelley, left, Pam May and Wade Creswell present a $10,000 check from the Roane Alliance to Pat Postma, second from right, for the new Peace Pavilion to house the International Friendship Bell. (Submitted photo)

 

The Roane Alliance recently contributed $10,000 to the fund supporting a new Peace Pavilion to house the International Friendship Bell in Oak Ridge’s Bissell Park.

Wade Creswell, president of the Roane Alliance; Pam May, Roane Alliance vice president; and Roane County Commissioner Steve Kelley presented the contribution to Pat Postma, co-chair of the International Friendship Bell Citizens Advisory Committee.

Kelley, who represents Roane County Commission District 4 in Oak Ridge, said county officials consider this a tourism contribution that will bring economic benefit to the county.

“The Tourism Committee of Roane County Commission had been looking for ways to help the new Manhattan Project National Historical Park become an economic engine for Roane County,” said Kelley, who chairs the committee. “I suggested a donation through the Roane Alliance to the bell project, to support the Bell and Peace Pavilion as an attraction for national park visitors. We believe it will help increase traffic to the national park and surrounding attractions.” [Read more…]

Filed Under: Business, Community, Front Page News, Government, Oak Ridge, Roane County, Top Stories Tagged With: Bissell Park, International Friendship Bell, Japan, Manhattan Project National Historical Park, National Park Service, Pam May, Pat Postma, Peace Pavilion, Roane Alliance, Roane County Visitors Bureau, Steve Kelley, United States, Wade Creswell, World War II, Ziad Demian

Oak Ridge supports ORNL, LeMond Composites carbon fiber partnership

Posted at 8:38 am September 1, 2016
By City of Oak Ridge Leave a Comment

Jones LeMond Watson and Creswell Aug 31 2016

Pictured above at a meeting on Wednesday, Aug. 31, 2016, on a new carbon fiber partnership between Oak Ridge-based company LeMond Composites and Oak Ridge National Laboratory are, from left, Steve Jones (Oak Ridge economic development consultant), Greg LeMond (LeMond Composites), Mark Watson (Oak Ridge city manager), and Wade Creswell (president of The Roane Alliance). (Photo by City of Oak Ridge)

 

By City of Oak Ridge

The City of Oak Ridge is proud to support the recent announcement that LeMond Composites, a new company in Oak Ridge offering solutions for high-volume and low-cost carbon fiber, has secured a licensing agreement with Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

The news was made public on August 29 in a release from LeMond Composites. The company, founded earlier this year by three-time Tour de France champion Greg LeMond, focuses on making carbon fiber composites with global applications. The agreement with ORNL will make LeMond Composites the first company to offer these newly developed products to the transportation, renewable energy, and infrastructure markets.

LeMond Composites plans to build their first carbon fiber production line at their recently purchased facility on Palladium Way at Horizon Center in west Oak Ridge. Their first commercially available product is expected to be ready in early 2018.

“I am ecstatic about this unique technological application for carbon fiber in our community,” Oak Ridge Mayor Warren Gooch said. “We look forward to working with LeMond Composites to create jobs and further investment in Oak Ridge.” [Read more…]

Filed Under: Business, Front Page News, Oak Ridge, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Top Stories, U.S. Department of Energy Tagged With: carbon fiber, carbon fiber composites, Carbon Fiber Technology Facility, City of Oak Ridge, Connie Jackson, Greg LeMond, Horizon Center, LeMond Composites, licensing agreement, Mark Watson, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, ORNL, Steve Jones, The Roane Alliance, Wade Creswell, Warren Gooch

ETEC presents 2015 Muddy Boot Awards, Postma Young Professional Medal

Posted at 2:33 pm December 13, 2015
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Jim-Henry-Muddy-Boot-Award-Chris-Whalen-Ron-Woody-Wade-Creswell-Dec-11-2015

Tennessee Deputy Governor Jim Henry, left, received one of two 2015 Muddy Boot Awards on Friday, Dec. 11, 2015. Also pictured are presenter Ron Woody, Roane County executive, second from right; Roane State Community College President Chris Whaley, second from left; and Roane Alliance President Wade Creswell. (DOE photo by Lynn Freeny)

 

Submitted

Two titans of East Tennessee’s business community were honored Friday with the Muddy Boot Award, given by the East Tennessee Economic Council in an ongoing tribute to individuals who, through their work and activities, build a better community.

This year’s honorees are Jim Henry, deputy governor of the State of Tennessee, a former businessman, legislator, and mayor of Roane County; and Dan Hurst, founder of StrataG, an East Tennessee entrepreneurial company and activist in numerous organizations across the region.

The Council also presented the Postma Young Professional Medal to Ann Weaver, a facilities engineer at Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

Anne Harrington, deputy administrator of the National Nuclear Security Administration, keynoted the event, which was held at the Doubletree Hotel in Oak Ridge. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Business, Front Page News, Government, Oak Ridge, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, State, Top Stories, U.S. Department of Energy Tagged With: Ann Weaver, Anne Harrington, Bill Haslam, Chris Whaley, D. Ray Smith, Dan Hurst, Department of Children’s Services, East Tennessee Economic Council, Jim Campbell, Jim Henry, Lamar Alexander, Manhattan Project, Muddy Boot Award, National Nuclear Security Administration, Omni Visions, Pat Postma, Postma Young Professional Medal, Roane County, Ron Woody, StrataG, Tennessee, Wade Creswell

CVMR still hopes to build $300M metal refinery, but R&D center on hold

Posted at 3:41 pm December 4, 2015
By John Huotari 8 Comments

Michael Hargett and Kamran Khoza of CVMR USA

CVMR President Michael Hargett, left, and Kamran Khozan, chairman and chief executive officer, joined local, state, and federal officials on Friday, March 13, 2015, to announce they’re moving company headquarters from Toronto to Oak Ridge, investing $313 million and adding 620 jobs.

 

Note: This story was last updated at 7:05 p.m.

Seeking to clarify its plans, CVMR on Friday said it still hopes to build a metal refining facility in Oak Ridge to produce metal powders and “nano materials.” That investment, to be completed in three phases, could cost more than $300 million in the first phase and eventually employ 1,200 to 1,500 engineers and technicians, the company said Friday.

But they will not establish a Center of Excellence focused on research and development of the application of vapor metallurgy technology to an expanding group of elements, CVMR said in a Friday letter to Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam.

The company sought to publicly clarify its position after news stories this week suggested that the CVMR deal was dead. Some officials and developers had pushed back after those stories appeared in several Knoxville media outlets, saying they remained “cautiously optimistic” that the company could still come to Oak Ridge. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Business, Business, Oak Ridge, Roane County, Slider Tagged With: Center of Excellence, City of Oak Ridge, Clint Brewer, CVMR, CVMR USA, Kamran Khozan, Mark Watson, metal refinery, metal refining, Michael Hargett, Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, ORNL, Parker Hardy, Randy Boyd, Ron Woody, Steve Jones, Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development, Tennessee Economic and Community Development, The Roane Alliance, University of Tennessee, Wade Creswell

Crete Carrier named Industry of Year in Roane, Sound Aviation gets Beautification Award

Posted at 11:16 pm August 1, 2015
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Roane IDB Industry of the Year Crete Carrier

Crete Carrier Award: Pictured above are Wade Creswell, left, of The Roane Alliance, James Owens of JR Global Manufacturing, and Jeff Hazlewood of Crete Carrier. (Photo courtesy Roane Alliance)

 

The Roane County Industrial Development Board has named Crete Carrier Corporation as Industry of the Year and presented a Beautification Award to Sound Aviation.

The IDB recognizes an industry each year for providing outstanding leadership in Roane County, a press release said.

“In addition, the Roane Beautification Award is given annually to an industry that demonstrates a strong sense of community pride and a standard of excellence through the presentation of their facilities on a consistent basis,” the release said. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Business, Front Page News, Roane County, Top Stories Tagged With: "The Rising Sun" redbud trees, Beautification Award, Crete Carrier, Crete Carrier Corporation, Ed Blom, IDB, Industry of the Year, James Owens, Jeff Hazelwood, Roane County, Roane County Industrial Development Board, Roane Regional Business and Technology Park, Sound Aviation, the Roane County Industrial Development Board, Wade Creswell

Roane County Chamber has new board chair, members

Posted at 9:22 am August 13, 2014
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Gail Lyke

Gail Lyke

The Roane County Chamber of Commerce board of directors has a new chair and members.

The board chair for the 2014-2015 year is Gail Lyke, vice president and branch manager at First Bank of Tennessee in Rockwood. Lyke officially took over July 17 from outgoing board chair Chris Ahler of Visionary Horizons Wealth Management at the Chamber’s first board meeting of the new fiscal year. Lyke previously served as the Chamber’s treasurer for the past two years and has served on the board since 2008.

Lyke was named the 2013 Chamber Woman of the Year. She is a graduate of Leadership Roane County and serves on the Leadership Roane County Alumni Association Board, as well as the Roane County Association of Women Executives, where she previously served as past president, and as a member of the Rockwood Civitan Club. Lyke also served on the Rockwood Planning Commission.

Lyke said her focus for the year will be to work with the board of directors and the president to “help facilitate the transition and changes that have been put in place to move the Chamber into a new value-added membership structure, encouraging both membership growth and retention.” [Read more…]

Filed Under: Business, Roane County, Top Stories Tagged With: board of directors, chair, Chamber Woman of the Year, Chris Marsalis, Chris Whaley, David Bolling, First Bank of Tennessee, Gail Lyke, Kingston, Roane Alliance, Roane County Chamber of Commerce, Roane State Community College, Tennessee Valley Authority, TVA, Wade Creswell

Proton Power named Roane County’s 2014 Industry of the Year

Posted at 1:54 am June 12, 2014
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Industry of the Year: Proton Power

Proton Power was named 2014 Industry of the Year in Roane County. From left to right are Roane County Industrial Board Chair Tommy Thompson, Proton Power Human Resources Manager Sean Hensley, and Wade Creswell, president and CEO of The Roane Alliance. (Photos courtesy of The Roane Alliance)

 

Submitted

HARRIMAN—The annual Roane County Industry Appreciation Breakfast was held at the end of May at Roane State Community College. The Roane County Industrial Board announced this year’s Industry of the Year and Roane Beautification Awards.

The event was sponsored by the Harriman Utility Board and Rockwood Electric Utility.

Thom Mason, director of Oak Ridge National Laboratory, was the guest speaker, speaking about how the lab wants to be used as a resource to businesses and industry in the state—and especially to Roane County. More than 95 percent of the lab is in Roane County. According to Mason, more than $450 million in products and services were spent by the lab last year, with around 40 percent of that being spent in the state, and much of that from local business and industry.

Mason spoke about specific examples of how ORNL was working with local businesses to help them grow and develop. He encouraged industries in attendance to reach out to them for their help with any challenges they may have.

“ORNL is a research and technology facility,” Mason said. “If we can help business and industry expand and ultimately grow jobs, then we have done our job.”

Proton Power was named 2014 Roane County Industry of the Year, and Volkswagen received the 2014 Roane Beautification Award. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Business, Roane County, Top Stories Tagged With: David Webb, Industry of the Year, John Kutz, Proton Power, Roane Beautification Award, Roane County, Roane County Industrial Board, Roane County Industrial Development Board, Roane County Industry Appreciation Breakfast, Sean Hensley, The Roane Alliance, Thom Mason, Tommy Thompson, Volkswagen, Volkswagen Group of America, Wade Creswell

Roane County Chamber honors 2014 business award winners

Posted at 7:39 pm April 28, 2014
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Roane Chamber 2014 Business Winners

From left to right are Jude Miller, Danice Turpin, Ann Davis, Becky Butler, Kathy Parks, Melinda Bertram, and Sharon Templeton. (Submitted photo)

 

Submitted

The Roane County Chamber’s business awards were presented Friday night during the 68th Annual Banquet. One of the largest crowds in recent years attended the event, with their fellow Chamber members being honored for outstanding service. The Chamber’s business awards are an integral part of the annual banquet. The awards presented include:

  • Betty Mowrer, of Kingston, named Volunteer of the Year;
  • The Bridge at Rockwood, named 2014 Business of the Year;
  • Jude Miller, Active Family and Sports Chiropractic, received the Paul E. Goldberg Young Professional Award;
  • Danice Turpin, Tennessee College of Applied Technology, was named Roane Chamber Woman of the Year for her years of dedicated community service; and
  • The Distinguished Service Award was presented to Sharon Templeton, of EnergySolutions, who was honored for her outstanding contributions both to Roane County and the Chamber. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Business, Roane County, Top Stories Tagged With: Active Family and Sports Chiropractic, Ann Davis, banquet, Betty Mowrer, business awards, Business of the Year, community service, Danice Turpin, Distinguished Service Award, EnergySolutions, Jude Miller, Paul Cowell, Paul E. Goldberg Young Professional Award, Ralph Best, Roane Chamber Woman of the Year, Roane County Chamber, Sharon Templeton, Tennessee College of Applied Technology, The Bridge at Rockwood, volunteer of the year, Wade Creswell, Whitestone Country Inn

Roane Alliance names new president, CEO

Posted at 6:26 pm January 30, 2014
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Wade Creswell

Wade Creswell

KINGSTON—The Roane Alliance board on Thursday unanimously agreed to hire Roane County native Wade Creswell as their next president and chief executive officer.

Creswell, 39, was recommended to the board by its officers and the selection committee after a nationwide search that began several weeks ago, shortly after current President and CEO Leslie Henderson announced she would retire on March 28.

Creswell will come to the Alliance from his position as vice president of development and public relations for health services at Michael Dunn Center, one of Roane County’s largest employers. The Michael Dunn Center is a nonprofit agency that serves children and adults with developmental disabilities. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Business, Roane County, Top Stories Tagged With: chief executive officer, Juanita Hembree Creswell, Kingston City Council, Leslie Henderson, Michael Dunn Center, president, Roane Alliance, Roane Chamber, Roane County Chamber of Commerce, Roane County Industrial Development Board, Roane County Visitors Bureau, Sharon Templeton, Wade Creswell

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