WHAT'S GOING ON- Big River Crossing recorded another quarter of growth in visitor engagement based on annual data since its October 22, 2016 launch. Nearly 515,000 people from around the world have visited the span, which is the nation’s longest pedestrian-bike bridge across the Mississippi River,The bridge’s fourth quarter numbers show 55,113 visitors between October and December of 2018, and of those visitors, 42,231 (88 percent) were pedestrians and 16,685 (12 percent) were cyclists. While the bridge experienced a slight decrease in total visitors from the third quarter’s 57,060 visitors, the data also reveals an increase of cyclists, with 5,000 more bikers this quarter than Q3’s 11,465. The majority of visitors have entered from the Memphis side, 81 percent, compared to the 19 percent of West Memphis entrances. These numbers bring the total number of visitors in 2018 to 214,711.- A new global survey reveals that CEOs view a recession as their biggest external concern for 2019. They cited attracting and retaining talent as their top internal concern.Conducted each year by The Conference Board, the findings from C-Suite Challenge 2019 also show that CEOs feel particularly uneasy about issues including global political instability, leader development, and trade. The report is based on a survey of more than 800 CEOs and more than 600 other C-Suite executives, primarily from the United States, Asia, and Europe.- The online apartment listing website apartments.com studied the Memphis multifamily market and found that the city’s vacancy rate has remained stable in 2018. Memphis has one of the highest vacancy rates in the country due to the multitude of buildings that are under renovation. The city has one of the largest renovation pipelines on both a nominal and percentage basis. New construction has also recently picked up, with close to 1,700 units underway. Under-construction properties are concentrated in Downtown Memphis and the southeast suburbs, where the lowest vacancies and highest rents in the metro are generally found. Rent growth has been solid in Memphis recently and is currently top in the country. Pricing continues to grow but is still significantly lower than the national benchmark.- The Teach901 Educator Job Fair series begins February 5 at Crosstown Concourse. The fairs connect education job seekers with recruiters from public, charter, and parochial schools in Memphis. New and experienced teachers are encouraged to attend. Recent college graduates and seniors who graduate in May are also invited to network. Register in advance by going to teach901.com/hiring-events/
Kristen RingPOWER PLAYERInside Memphis Business magazine publishes a list of local Power Players every year. These are the movers and shakers in more than 30 categories who get things done in their respective fields. IMB’s April issue has the complete list. We also publish individual categories in other issues throughout the year, and we feature individual Power Players in our weekly Tip Sheet.This week’s Power Player is Kristen Ring:Head of school, Hutchison School. B.A., Master’s, English, Wake Forest University. Doctorate of Education, High Point University. Extensive education experience as senior administrator, teacher, coach in private, independent schools in Alabama, North Carolina. Began career as an English teacher in 2006. Recipient, Waddill Excellence in Teaching Award for exemplary classroom instruction. Division 1 Field Hockey Atlantic Coast Conference scholar athlete.
Kristen Ring
