“Focusing on existing Tennessee businesses is a priority in our Jobs4TN strategy,” Haslam said. “I appreciate Cormetech’s growth and investment in our state as we work to make Tennessee the No. 1 location in the Southeast for high quality jobs.”

“Cormetech’s expansion is another example of why existing businesses are the backbone of our state’s economy,” Hagerty said.  “Our department is continually working to create a business friendly environment that encourages companies to grow and invest in Tennessee.”

Cormetech is the leading producer of titania-based ceramic honeycomb catalyst for NOx emission control used in Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) systems for air pollution control.  Headquartered in Durham, N.C., with sales offices in Europe and China, Cormetech has fully dedicated, state-of-the art manufacturing facilities, research and development centers and testing laboratories in Durham, N.C. and Cleveland, Tenn.  Located at 3300 Old Tasso Road Northwest, the Cleveland manufacturing facility specializes in SCR catalyst manufacturing for the coal power industry and refinery applications including Fluid Catalytic Cracking (FCC) applications.

“This investment demonstrates Cormetech’s commitment to delivering the highest performance, most cost effective solutions to its customers as they endeavor to meet the growing demands in air quality compliance,” Denise Rice, plant manager, Cleveland Operations, said.  “Our continued investment into the Cleveland facility is in line with our long-term manufacturing strategies.”

“Cormetech has continued to grow and expand since day one in Cleveland,” Gary Farlow, president and CEO, Cleveland/Bradley Chamber of Commerce, said.  “We appreciate the company’s long term commitment to our community and to the citizens of Bradley County.”

The Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development’s mission is to develop strategies that help make Tennessee the No. 1 location in the Southeast for high quality jobs. The department seeks to attract new corporate investment in Tennessee and works with Tennessee companies to facilitate expansion and economic growth.

The Wellness Center at Dowell Springs has attracted some of the area’s top professionals to staff their facility in hopes of helping area residents address wellness concerns. Located in the Dowell Springs Medical Park, just off Middlebrook Pike, Managing Director Lisa Wolf, ATC, said The Wellness Center is truly unique in that programs are medically based and individually structured to help clients meet their goals.

“We have a medical director on-site, who is able to perform comprehensive physical exams,” she said. “Our facility is a one-stop shop for a well-integrated and extensive array of health and wellness services which are truly medically-based.”

The staff at The Wellness Center are all outstanding practitioners who have professional credentials not found at typical health clubs and fitness centers. The Center’s philosophy includes a six-point “sphere of wellness” that includes nutrition, fitness, peace of mind, knowledge, restoration and relationships.

“These core philosophies are used to create a totally balanced approach to wellness,” Wolf said. “We offer the resources through our programs and classes that help our clients attain their goals. Whether they are trying to lose weight, stop smoking, deal with cancer or just stay in shape, our staff listens to their concerns and helps them create a regimen that will ensure a better chance of success.”

The use of The Wellness Center is membership based. Memberships are open to the general public, as well as employer groups. Initially, the Center was started as a resource to physician groups at the Medical Park for patients and employees of the physician groups.

“We can offer some nice discounts to employer groups, depending upon their size,” Wolf said. “The savings can be 5 percent to 10 percent, with large corporations receiving up to 20 percent discounts. By making it more affordable for employer groups, we are hoping to be able to serve more members for their wellness needs. We also cater to physician referrals.”

Each new member receives a biometric assessment so they can understand what their starting point is before setting goals. Then, the member works with the staff to set priorities and goals that are closely monitored. A customized program helps in that it is designed to meet the specific goals and needs individuals and their doctors are concerned about.

Thanks to a customized online software program, information about the member and his or her progress is input into the system and is available at all times to the member. If permission is given by the member, data can be shared with physicians and/or employers to help in the development of a lifestyle program that will further enhance the member’s progress toward formulated goals.

For an additional fee, members can also have their own personal coach to help guide them through their personalized wellness program.

Some of the programs currently being offered at The Wellness Center include: nutrition and healthy eating classes, weight management, tobacco-cessation programs, stress management and better sleep programs, changing lifestyle programs for diabetic and cancer patients, fitness classes that include dance and spin, yoga on the lawn, therapeutic massage and endurance training for walkers and runners. The Wellness Center also offers strength and conditioning classes called, “Work It Circuit” and “PowerCore.”

“We have two massage therapists on staff right now that are able to offer therapeutic massage,” Wolf said. “A lot of people benefit from massage when trying to learn to relax and sleep better at night. Better sleep means they are more able to meet their goals of a healthy lifestyle and are better able to deal with health conditions.”

Wolf said that one of the strengths of The Wellness Center is that the staff is all working as a dedicated team and that everyone embraces the Center’s six-point sphere of wellness. The reception to the Center from physician groups, as well as their patients and employees has been encouraging. In fact, Wolf said that they will start reaching out in the marketing to physician groups not located at Dowell Springs because they know doctors are often looking for some place to refer patients to who are committed to their wellness. Up until now, there were no medically based facilities that could accept these referrals.

“The Wellness Center provides a place where members can truly connect on a more meaningful level than they have found in the past at traditional health clubs,” Wolf said. “We are dedicated to helping every one of our members achieve their wellness goals and have the professional staff capable of helping them do that. We have a physical therapist and nutritionist on staff, and that sets us apart as a comprehensive center for wellness. The Center is beautiful and offers members a place they can come to for expert assistance in achieving their wellness goals.”

The Wellness Center is open from 6 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., Monday-Thursday, Friday from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Saturday from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The Wellness Center was developed by ProVision Healthcare and is part of the East Tennessee Healthcare Center (ETHC), a comprehensive health and wellness campus that focuses on preventative, predictive and personalized medicine. ETHC serves all patients and physicians in the region. Providers that are part of ETHC include The Knoxville Comprehensive Breast Center, Tennessee Cancer Specialists, East Tennessee Diagnostic Center, The Imaging Center at Dowell Springs, ProVision Physical Therapy and The Center for BioMedical Research.

Sonny Harben, proprietor of the Maplehurst Inn Bed & Breakfast, located at 800 W. Hill St. in Knoxville. The Inn will reopen August 15, after months of renovations.

Renovations consist of new flooring, paint, carpet and the addition of an extra bedroom. The 19-room European-style mansion, built in 1918, is one of Knoxville’s most elegant former residences. Located on the Tennessee River, just two blocks from the University of Tennessee campus, downtown and the Knoxville Convention Center, the neighborhood is part of historic Maplehurst Park. Tree-lined streets and numerous other historic buildings still remain — giving those who chose to take a stroll through the neighborhood a chance to imagine they are back in a more peaceful, relaxing era.

The Inn offers its guests a full hot breakfast every morning, which is included in the price. A winding spiral staircase — the Inn’s most memorable feature — takes diners to the basement, which has three separate cozy dining areas. Throughout the day, there are plenty of snacks and drinks such as fruit, muffins, water, sodas, coffee and tea. At breakfast each morning, Harben will still be serving his Maplehurst specialty — an egg, cheese and vegetable casserole, which is so tasty there are seldom leftovers.

Prices are extremely affordable at the Maplehurst, especially since they include breakfast and snacks throughout the day. Rooms start at $79 per night, with the Penthouse on the third floor renting for $149. There are also rooms that cost $89 per night.

“As far as I know, we are the only hotel in town that has Jacuzzis in the room,” Harben said. “The view from the Penthouse deck is an outstanding one. You can see quite a bit of the Tennessee River and downtown as well.”

Another change at the Maplehurst is the addition of a room that has a masculine decorating flair. A leather love seat, chairs and ottoman will give male guests a sense of comfort and well-being.

One of the spacious, well-appointed rooms at the Maplehurst Inn Bed & Breakfast. The rooms at the Maplehurst are all furnished in period and replica antiques and offer Jacuzzis.

“The rates are the best deal in the region,” Harben said. “I haven’t raised them in 12 years, and even after the expensive of extensive renovations will hold them where they have been all this time.”

Many of the Maplehurst’s guests stay at the Inn when traveling in the area, and try to come back if their travel plans allow. They enjoy the comfort and hospitality Harben offers, the extremely low prices and the fact they can walk easily to so many destinations. The Inn is within two blocks of the bus stop and the free trolley service the city of Knoxville offers. Many guests walk the two short blocks to World’s Fair Park, where the Butcher Block steakhouse is located. The Inn is perfect for the traveler who does not need all the amenities of a large hotel, and who prefers the personalized attention they receive at a bed and breakfast. In reading the comments they leave in the Maplehurst’s Guest Book, there is no doubt they have memorable times at the Inn. International guests have stayed at the Maplehurst from countries such as Switzerland, Korea, South Africa, England, China and Albania.

For small groups and meetings, Harben said he is able to accommodate about 15 to 20 people comfortably.

“We’ve never had a big call for meetings, but the ones we have had are usually small gatherings for business meetings so people can meet away from the distractions of the office and not have to travel far or spend a lot of money renting meeting facilities that are expensive,” Harben said. “They usually have the meetings catered, but we can help with light beverages and snacks, fruit and muffins.”

Guests have always enjoyed the furnishings at the Maplehurst, and the new renovations are sure to impress them. One of the most important rooms of the Inn is the day room, which has been updated to a little modern feel, but still maintains it casual elegence. With overstuffed couches and chairs, a massive fireplace and numerous decorative touches, it’s a room perfect for relaxing in while sipping a cup of tea or coffee and enjoying a light snack and reading a book or magazine.

Originally built as a private residence, the Maplehurst has had many uses over the years. At one time, it was used as a college dorm, and for many years as a hotel before being turned into a bed and breakfast. When it reopens this month, there will be 12 guest rooms — one more than before the renovations, plus an on-site manager and assistant manager in order to best serve the needs of the Maplehurst’s patrons.

“The renovations are giving the Maplehurst a complete new facelift,” Harben said. “Even the hardwood floors have been completely redone and the kitchen area remodeled for increased efficiency. We will still offer outstanding service and hospitality to our guests at the best price they can find in the region.”

WASHINGTON, D.C. — A new bipartisan poll, conducted by Mark Mellman and Whit Ayres, shows that going into the 2010 election cycle, both Democrats and Republicans face a deeply unhappy electorate who are unified in their concern over the loss of American manufacturing jobs and the lack of work being done on the issue by Congress. When asked about prospective economic solutions, pro-manufacturing policies won overwhelming support across demographics including non-union households, independents, union households and Tea Party supporters. The responses in the poll echo a June 21, 2010 article in the Financial Times, which quotes a projection that in 2011 the United States will lose its status as top nation in factory production to China, “thus ending a 110-year run as the No. 1 country.”

“This is a blunt message for Washington,” said Scott Paul, executive director of the Alliance for American Manufacturing (AAM). “A majority of likely voters say the U.S. no longer has the world’s strongest economy, and that Washington isn’t doing enough to promote manufacturing despite the contributions this sector makes to America’s economic security, our independence and our ability to stay ahead of global competition.”

In the poll of 1,000 likely general election voters, “We have lost too many manufacturing jobs,” is the top concern among independents and working class voters, even compared to government debt, loss of life in Iraq and Afghanistan, the high cost of health care, illegal immigration or terrorism.

Other highlights of the poll include:

• A majority believe the U.S. no longer has the world’s strongest economy — a title they want to regain.

• Voters are anxious about the economy — specifically China debt, spending and loss of manufacturing.

• Eighty-six percent of voters want Washington to focus on manufacturing, and 63 percent feel working people who make things are being forgotten while Wall Street and banks get bailouts.

• Two-thirds of voters believe manufacturing is central to our economic strength, and 57 percent believe manufacturing is more central to our economic strength than high-tech, knowledge or financial service sectors.

• Across all demographics, voters’ economic solutions center on trade enforcement, clean energy, tax credits for U.S. manufacturing and replacing aging infrastructure using American materials, a surprising overlap between Tea Party supporters, independents, non-union households and union households.

The Alliance for American Manufacturing is a unique non-partisan, non-profit partnership forged to strengthen manufacturing in the U.S. AAM brings together a select group of America’s leading manufacturers and the United States Steelworkers. Their mission is to promote creative policy solutions on priorities such as international trade, energy security, health care, retirement security, currency manipulation and other issues of mutual concern.

Ray Childers, retiring CMA president & CEO

Ray Childers, president and CEO of the Chattanooga Manufacturers Association (CMA) is retiring from his position effective June 30. After 18 years at the helm, Childers is leaving content that the Chattanooga area’s manufacturing community is taking a swing in a positive direction.

He served as personnel director for Dupont’s Chattanooga division for many years before coming to his position at CMA, therefore Childers has seen the many struggles and triumphs of the manufacturing community he has dedicated a great share of his adult life to promoting. His hard work and determination have now culminated in a success story he can be proud he helped write.

“Having Volkswagen choose Chattanooga is certainly huge,” Childers said. “It’s a boon to our region’s economic development, of that there is no doubt. However, long term, the nuclear renaissance will prove there are no other viable options.”

Currently, there are authorizations being sought for 17 nuclear plants, and according to Childers, they are mostly all in the Southeast.

“We’ve got everything it takes to become a nuclear service center,” he said. “We’ve got the expertise at Alstrom along with all kinds of welding and training facilities. We have Westinghouse right here and a reactor simulator.”

Childers also pointed out that Alstrom Power will be producing the huge turbine rotors for power plants, nuclear and otherwise.

“Twenty to 25 percent of all the electricity in the world is produced in whole or in part with equipment made by Alstrom,” he said. “They are an impressively large company, and we are fortunate to have them right here in Chattanooga.”

Childers was pleased that the region around Chattanooga has not been hit as hard as many areas in the U.S. by the downturn in the economy the past few years. With construction in full swing for the Volkswagen plant as well as other businesses that have opened or located to the area due to Volkswagen’s presence, unemployment has been lower than many other manufacturing centers across the nation.

“We expect to come out of the economic downturn at a higher rate than other areas, too,” Childers said. “Our manufacturing heritage is something to be proud of here in Chattanooga. And if Zach Wamp is elected governor, I think he would be the best person for the job. He understands the value of manufacturing and would do a great job at helping the state continue to attract more manufacturing to the state.”

Childers also talked about how Volkswagen is paying their wages to employees.

“They are going to pay exactly what they have to pay to attract and retain the kind of people they need to pay to run their business,” he said. “If they pay any more than that, they’re paying too much. Assembly line work in the automotive industry is tough. It’s fast moving, and those are not jobs for just everybody. In time, people will get up to $25 or $30 per hour, but they will have to prove themselves first.”

Childers said that he hopes the British Petroleum (BP) oil spill in the Gulf will not cause repercussions in the oil industry as a whole.

“President Obama wants them to pay for everything related to the accident,” he said. “But he is going to have to understand that if he is not careful, he is going to kill the goose. The only way BP can afford to pay for all this cleanup work is if they get back to doing what they do to make money — making gasoline out of crude oil. If he just stops them in their tracks, they don’t have enough assets to help clean it up. If he stops them, somebody else is going to have to pay to clean it up.”

Childers will continue to live in the area after retirement and is pleased that manufacturing has been accepted so readily now by almost everyone in the city since the Volkswagen announcement.

Tim Spires, the new president and CEO of CMA

“This area is beautiful, and has so much to offer for a quality of life — our tourism economy is making this a great place to live and do business,” he said. “But, if you take manufacturing out of the equation, and it’s family wage jobs, everything collapses. Chattanooga has the best of both worlds right now.”

Childers said his replacement, Tim Spires, comes from a manufacturing background and that he thinks Spires will do very well running CMA.

“I’ll be around in the background to help Tim in anyway I can,” Childers said. “I’ve enjoyed my time with the membership, and intend to do what I can in a more limited basis to see them continue to do well.”

The Tennessee Automotive Manufacturers Association (TAMA) has named their 2010 Board of Directors. The 2010 officers of TAMA are Patrick Higgins, president; Keith Updike, vice president; and Kevin Hunsinger, treasurer.

Higgins is managing director for Marsh. He began his career with Marsh in 1976 and is a licensed insurance agent in all 50 states. His background and training has been focused within the insurance risk management practice, specializing in the commercial property, casualty and financial products with an emphasis on sophisticated risk financing, especially as it relates to the global/international business community. Higgins is a member of the Governor’s U.S. Southeast/Japan Association, former Board of director for Exchange Club, member of Society of International Business Fellows, former member of the Hartford Insurance Company Producers Council, Independent Agents of Tennessee, as well as Board of Director for the Mississippi Automotive Manufacturers Association (MAMA) and participating member of the Alabama Automotive Manufacturers Association (AAMA).

Updike, TAMA vice president, is managing director for BBK Nashville, providing BBK clients with extensive expertise in world-class manufacturing practices and continuous improvement methodology — targeting improvement in the areas of manufacturing, quality, supply chain and materials management. He is an experienced operations executive, having managed multiple facilities, union and non-union workforces and in public and private companies. Updike is a member of the Japan-American Society of Tennessee and the Turnaround Management Association.

Hunsinger, TAMA treasurer, is a senior manager in audit and enterprise risk services for Deloitte and Touche LLP, in Nashville. He has served multinational clients primarily in the manufacturing industry, including Bridgestone Americas Inc., Nissan North America, Saturn Corporation and Denso Manufacturing of Tennessee. Hunsinger also serves on the Finance Committee of Family and Children’s Service.

Other 2010 TAMA Board of Directors include: Thomas Brewer, director, South Central Tennessee Workforce Alliance; Phil Carver, sales consultant, Advanced Sales & Engineering LLC; Joe Conner, managing shareholder, Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz, PC; Andre Gist, president and chief executive officer, Manufacturers Industrial Group; Bill Holt, warehouse operations manager, Continental Machinery Movers; Christine Karbowiak, chief administration officer, Bridgestone America Holding, Inc.; Thomas Loafman, director of purchasing, Volkswagen Group of America; Lorie Shaunteé, national recruitment specialist, Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development; Rick Youngblood, director and plant manager, Nissan North America-Decherd. Brannan Atkinson, president of Atkinson Public Relations, serves TAMA as executive director.

TAMA was founded in 1987 in response to Tennessee’s rapidly growing automotive manufacturing industry led by Nissan North America and Saturn Corporation. TAMA is a membership organization created to strengthen and expand Tennessee’s automotive industry. It helps Tennessee automotive companies react to the challenges of the global automotive marketplace.

TAMA’s 132 diverse member companies include primarily Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) and Tier 1, 2 and 3 suppliers as well as government agencies and professional services organizations that have specializing expertise in the automotive industry. Membership consists of both in- and out-of-state businesses.

Jim Williamson

Jim Williamson will hold the title of director of special projects. Elana Gulas will serve as economic development and retail coordinator. Blair Waddell is the new promotions and events coordinator.

“These three individuals bring our team to a new level, and their qualifications support the new vision and standard of the organization overall, said White. “Williamson’s strong background in both the technical and design industries gives him a unique perspective when working with potential businesses, government and other strategic partners to advance our downtown. His history of directing sustainability initiatives and managing development projects will be vital as we move forward with our goal of promoting and supporting Chattanooga’s downtown.”

Williamson has 15 years of experience in project management and architecture. Most recently he served as the director of a pre-construction services at Kuebler Builders, Inc. Prior to that, he worked as the senior project manager and director of sustainability initiatives at CBL & Associates. Williamson received his bachelor’s degree in architecture from the University of Tennessee.

Elana Gulas

Gulas joins the River City Company from CreateHere, where she served as the senior fellow for culture responsible for collaboration with business owners to facilitate successful community growth, events and campaigns. A graduate of East Tennessee State University, Gulas holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration with an emphasis in marketing. She is currently a member of WTCI’s Community Advisory Board.

“It is imperative that River City Company positions downtown Chattanooga as an ideal location for distinctive retail and other business opportunities,” said White. “In her role, Gulas will support River City’s efforts to support and grow the downtown retail and business sectors. She has shown herself to be a strong leader and committed to Chattanooga’s continued development.”

Blair Waddell

In her new position, Waddell will be responsible for the day-to-day operations associated with various new programs and promotions launched by River City Company to enhance the downtown experience.

Waddell joined River City from CreateHere, where she helped create the community-visioning project, STAND.

“Waddell will work with downtown businesses to establish partnerships for cross-promotion of downtown, and offer unique opportunities to engage residents and visitors in downtown life,” White said. “Waddell brings the highest level of professionalism to our company and a proven track record of event field work in our community.”

Established more than 20 years ago, River City, a non-profit organization, was funded by local foundations and businesses to serve as the catalyst of a community visioning initiative that also included the Riverwalk and the 21st Century Waterfront, The Tennessee Aquarium, The Creative Discovery Museum, RiverBend, the Chattanooga Lookout Stadium, the Bijou Theatre and a variety of residential developments. The organization acts as a facilitator and partner to assist businesses to expand and relocate, promote existing retail and attract new shops and restaurants to Chattanooga.

If you are getting ready to purchase a book anytime soon that will help you improve your perspective on business in these challenging economic times, you may want to consider, “The Pursuit of Something Better: How an Underdog Company Defied the Odds, Won Customers’ Hearts, and Grew its Employees into Better People.” Read it, and you’ll be inspired to take a hard look at all aspects of your life.

John Rooney

While Pursuit focuses on the story of how U.S. Cellular rose from a minor player in the telecommunications industry to a force to be reckoned with, it also does an outstanding job of portraying the thinking of the company’s CEO and President, John “Jack” Rooney. And Rooney is certainly a “force to be reckoned with” in his own right. His “trade secrets” are not at all secret thanks to the publishing of Pursuit. Anyone could copy his unique style in their own company and personal life if they were so inclined. Perhaps that’s why Rooney has been so successful at helping U.S. Cellular become No. 1 in customer loyalty. Few people are willing to admit to themselves that their current way of approaching the way they handle their business and personal lives is not working out so well.

The man has vision. He throws out conventional business attitudes with aplomb. Yes, he has all the good stuff like values, ethics and integrity. Best of all, he has courage and a heart for people.

Rooney is not afraid to recognize and eliminate people who are arrogant, lazy, disruptive, sexist, unwilling to achieve or who in general refuse to be a part of his goal of a “Dynamic Organization.”

“The best way to get through to a customer is, first of all, through talented, well-equipped motivated associates,” Rooney said. “The product must live up to or exceed the promises you make relative to the product. We did that, and we did it well, so the company has prospered because of it.”

There were many challenges along the way that Rooney and U.S. Cellular faced 10 years ago when he first joined the company.

“We were just midgets compared to others in this industry,” he said. “Some people would say it was a pretty good sized company, but we had to turn it into the Little Engine That Could. We had to work harder than anybody else so that we could be successful.

“I’ve never gone to bed at night worried about what we were doing,” he continued. “I’ve always had a clean conscience and could always face the customer with the idea that we were doing the best we knew how to do.”

Rooney stressed that it is imperative to deal with customers in an ethical and fair way. “Looking back, I have no regrets,” he said. “I can’t look back on anything I did in the last 10 years and say I wish I had done things differently or that I violated my ethics or principles. The company has been run on the straight and narrow — and I’m very proud of that. We’ve been very successful, which shows that you don’t have to be a crook to be a good businessman.”

Rooney pointed out that the whole concept of honesty and integrity in business is something any and all industries can and should embrace.

“People bring things on themselves,” he said. “They think that the end justifies the means. Some people have got to get the win, and they don’t care how they get the win. At U.S. Cellular, we want to win, and we work hard to win, but we get our jollies out of the fact that we win the right way.”

He also said that it’s important to be very conscious of the quality of what is being offered to customers, and that striving to improve is part of being successful for the sake of customers.

“As far as I’m concerned, U.S. Cellular did a great job of being the Little Engine That Could and refusing to die,” Rooney said. “Not only did we keep up with the technology our competition was using, there were times that we led that technology.”

In the early years of his tenure, there were some tough times, and people would ask Rooney why U.S. Cellular didn’t just sell out.

“First of all, it’s not my job to sell the company, that’s somebody else’s job” he said. “Second, my job is to run the company successfully, and I think we did that.”

Rooney, 67, has announced that he will be retiring from Chicago-based U.S. Cellular sometime this year. He plans to remain active in the community, serving on the board of directors for First Midwest Bancorp and Loyola University. He joined the company in 2000, after serving as an executive at Ameritech.

About U.S. Cellular

U.S. Cellular employs 8,700 associates, and is owned by parent company Telephone & Data Systems Inc. (TDS). It is the 5th-largest wireless telecommunications company in the U.S., behind AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile and Sprint Nextel, with over six million customers in 126 markets and 26 states. Under Rooney’s leadership, the company has more than doubled its revenues, which were $3.93 billion in 2009.

“Heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women, and chest pain is one of the most common reasons people visit the ER, said Robert Brown, R.N., the clinical coordinator of the Mercy St. Mary’s Chest Pain Center. “Patients with chest pain or other heart attack symptoms will receive immediate medical evaluation by Mercy physicians. The doctors can monitor a patient in the Chest Pain Center in order to five a patient a fast, accurate diagnosis. Then, a patient can either go home reassured they did not have a heart attack or be admitted to the hospital for additional care if necessary.”

Brown said that the Mercy St. Mary’s Chest Pain Center has the newest state-of-the-art diagnostic tools and technology to assist physicians in determining a patient’s condition.

“With a modern heart cath department, a 64-slice CT scanner and point-of-care bedside treatment and testing, the Chest Pain Center can provide a patient with the answers they need about their chest pain and get that patient to treatment or surgery as soon as possible,” Brown said.

Approximately 1.2 million Americans suffer a heart attack each year and nearly one-third of these will die. Often people are not sure about what’s wrong and simply dismiss the chest pain as heartburn or a pulled muscle.

In a heart attack, a vessel supplying the heart muscle with blood and oxygen becomes blocked. The vessel has been narrowed by a slow buildup of fatty deposits made mostly of cholesterol. That part of the muscle will begin to die if the individual does not immediately seek medical attention.

These are some of the symptoms of a heart attack in both men and women:

For men, there is chest discomfort. Most heart attacks involve discomfort in the center of the chest that lasts for more than a few minutes, or goes away and comes back. The discomfort can feel like pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain. There can also be discomfort in others areas of the upper body. This can include pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw or stomach. Some people experience shortness of breath occurring with or before chest discomfort. Other symptoms can include breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea or lightheadedness.

For women, there can be pressure, fullness, squeezing pain in the center of the chest, spreading to the neck, shoulder or jaw. Some women experience chest discomfort with lightheadedness, fainting, sweating, nausea or shortness of breath. There can also be abdominal pressure or discomfort, lower chest discomfort, back pain, unusual fatigue, shortness of breath and dizziness.

Anyone experiencing these symptoms should call 911 immediately. Treatments are most effective when they occur in the early stages of chest pain.

Mercy has 24/7 ER services at all seven of its acute care hospitals in East Tennessee. These include Mercy Medical Centers St. Mary’s, North and West in Knox County, Baptist Hospital of Cocke County, St. Mary’s Medical Center of Campbell County and St. Mary’s Medical Center of Scott County. The ER at St. Mary’s Jefferson Memorial Hospital is currently undergoing a renovation and expansion that will add six exam rooms to the ER in Jefferson City.

“Through a combination of hard work and enthusiastic customer acceptance, our company has achieved significant results in a relatively short period of time,” said Eric Barton, CEO of RELYANT. “The name change to RELYANT is a direct reflection of our success and reflects the company not only as it is today, but our vision for the future. In the company’s vision statement, we say ‘working with our company is a promise delivered.’ Our new name accurately reflects that promise, communicates the type of organization we are, the confidence we have in our capabilities and our customer dedication.”

Founded in 2006, RELYANT is a global “turn-key” service provider dedicated to delivering world-class solutions to complex projects around the globe. The company’s services include construction, life support, logistics/procurement, security and IT communications. In addition to its Maryville headquarters, the company operates another U.S. office in San Antonio and offshore offices in Iraq, Afghanistan and Uganda.

RELYANT’s revenue growth over the past three years has increased from $7 million in 2006 to a projected $80 million in contract revenue for 2010. RELYANT’s services offerings have also expanded with the addition of relocatable building services for commercial companies in Afghanistan, spray foam insulation services for military bases in the states, expanded vehicle maintenance in Iraq and Afghanistan, a contract to provide staffing for forward operating bases and the teaming with new partners to develop rapid housing deployment capabilities.