WHAT'S GOING ON- The cost of housing for urban renters has risen more than 324 percent since 1983, says the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Consumer Price Index. That means some workers have to work more hours to afford rent. SmartAsset looked at the 25 largest U.S. cities and determined some people would have to work nearly 100 hours to afford their monthly rent bill. Fortunately, Memphis is not at those levels. At 58.5 hours, we have it relatively easy next to No. 1 San Jose, California (97.2), No. 2 Los Angeles (90.3), and No. 11 Nashville (64.2). Of the 25 cities, only Indianapolis and Detroit fare better with 57.9 each. Read the full study here.- The Clinical Trials Network of Tennessee (CTN2) is starting its first clinical trial in the network’s efforts to grow clinical research volume at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center. CTN2 launched in April 2018 and has brought on eight clinical partners to establish the statewide network, launched an electronic data warehouse, and partnered with TriNetX to bring in trial opportunities. It’s also been promoting the network’s capabilities to pharmaceutical, biotech, and medical device companies.- Youth Villages is expanding its intensive in-home services program into Arkansas. The YVIntercept model is now available to 60 children and families in nine rural counties in Arkansas. Youth Villages was awarded a contract through a competitive RFQ process and is collaborating with Arkansas Department of Human Services and other providers to keep families together in the community.NEWS FROM OTHER SOURCES- More than $1 million of improper reimbursements were received by the now-defunct Mississippi River Corridor Tennessee (MRCT). The MRCT was a Memphis-based nonprofit focused on economic development, land conservation, environment, and wildlife preservation in six West Tennessee counties near the Mississippi River. It was dissolved in 2017. Read Toby Sells’ story in the Memphis Flyer here.- Tennessee State University is using $1 million received from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to recruit students in agriculture and STEM. Read about it in the Tri-State Defender here.- FedEx Corp. will give new president and chief operating officer Raj Subramaniam $955,560 in annual base pay plus plenty more in incentives. Read Wayne Risher’s story in the Daily Memphian here.- There’s a three-story building about to go up downtown next to the Blue Monkey. It’ll have a new restaurant and apartments. Read Corey Davis’ story in the Memphis Business Journal here.- The Commercial Appeal’s Desiree Sennett catches up on business owners in the Broad Avenue district and how they hope to connect to the Binghampton neighborhood.UPCOMING EVENTSGot an event? Send your info to Samuel X. Cicci at scicci@insidememphisbusiness.
- Camp Expo: Local and area camps show their offerings this year for kids from preschool to 18. Meet camp staff, see videos, and take home informational material. Event is free and at the Memphis Botanic Garden. Admission to the Garden and My Big Backyard is included. March 23, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. More info here.- Margarita Festival: Vote on the city’s best margarita makers. Ticket ($34) includes entry to the event and 15 margarita samples, plus food, cash bar, and entertainment. Proceeds benefit Volunteer Memphis. May 11, 3-6 p.m., Fourth Bluff Park. More info here.THE HOT SHEETWho's getting promoted? Who's closing big deals? Who's getting awards? Inside Memphis Business magazine's Hot Sheet has the latest on milestones in Memphis.
– Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare hired Jessie Tucker, III (pictured), as president of of Methodist South Hospital. Tucker recently served as COO of Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick, New Jersey.– Diversified Trust made three promotions at its Memphis office: Vince Chamblee (senior vice president), and Jim Gilliland and Hadley Miller (principals).– Ring Container Technologies launched a new barrier technology for plastic packaging. The BarrierGuard process offers higher-quality packaging for goods using less material and is fully recyclable.– Marx-Bensdorf named Laurence Kenner as relocation director. Kenner has more than 40 years of realty experience, and has served on the board of the Memphis Area Association of Realtors and was president of the Women’s Council of Realtors.POWER PLAYER
Inside 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 Robert S. Shaw, Jr., co-founder and CEO, Paragon Bank. B.A. and M.A., University of Mississippi. Graduate, American Bankers Association National Commercial Lending School. Previously served as president and COO, Enterprise National Bank. Board member, Memphis Child Advocacy Center. Board member and treasurer, Pinecrest Camp and Retreat Center. Board chairman, Woodland Presbyterian School. Elder and stewardship committee member, Germantown Presbyterian Church. Member, Economics Club of Memphis. Former board member, Ole Miss Alumni Association and March of Dimes.QUOTABLE“I try to encourage everybody to not communicate electronically. There’s a lot of value in talking face-to-face. It enables people to have back-and-forth in a conversation. There are visual cues, emotional intelligence, tone — things that don’t come across in an email or text.” — Nathan A. Bicks, chief manager at Burch, Porter & Johnson and one of the Inside Memphis Business CEOs of the Year, in the current issue of IMB.
- Camp Expo: Local and area camps show their offerings this year for kids from preschool to 18. Meet camp staff, see videos, and take home informational material. Event is free and at the Memphis Botanic Garden. Admission to the Garden and My Big Backyard is included. March 23, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. More info here.- Margarita Festival: Vote on the city’s best margarita makers. Ticket ($34) includes entry to the event and 15 margarita samples, plus food, cash bar, and entertainment. Proceeds benefit Volunteer Memphis. May 11, 3-6 p.m., Fourth Bluff Park. More info here.THE HOT SHEETWho's getting promoted? Who's closing big deals? Who's getting awards? Inside Memphis Business magazine's Hot Sheet has the latest on milestones in Memphis.– Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare hired Jessie Tucker, III (pictured), as president of of Methodist South Hospital. Tucker recently served as COO of Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick, New Jersey.– Diversified Trust made three promotions at its Memphis office: Vince Chamblee (senior vice president), and Jim Gilliland and Hadley Miller (principals).– Ring Container Technologies launched a new barrier technology for plastic packaging. The BarrierGuard process offers higher-quality packaging for goods using less material and is fully recyclable.– Marx-Bensdorf named Laurence Kenner as relocation director. Kenner has more than 40 years of realty experience, and has served on the board of the Memphis Area Association of Realtors and was president of the Women’s Council of Realtors.POWER 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 Robert S. Shaw, Jr., co-founder and CEO, Paragon Bank. B.A. and M.A., University of Mississippi. Graduate, American Bankers Association National Commercial Lending School. Previously served as president and COO, Enterprise National Bank. Board member, Memphis Child Advocacy Center. Board member and treasurer, Pinecrest Camp and Retreat Center. Board chairman, Woodland Presbyterian School. Elder and stewardship committee member, Germantown Presbyterian Church. Member, Economics Club of Memphis. Former board member, Ole Miss Alumni Association and March of Dimes.QUOTABLE“I try to encourage everybody to not communicate electronically. There’s a lot of value in talking face-to-face. It enables people to have back-and-forth in a conversation. There are visual cues, emotional intelligence, tone — things that don’t come across in an email or text.” — Nathan A. Bicks, chief manager at Burch, Porter & Johnson and one of the Inside Memphis Business CEOs of the Year, in the current issue of IMB. 
