WHAT'S GOING ON- Lyft is starting a Driver Advisory Council in Memphis, a community program that will give feedback and factor into Lyft’s decision-making when it comes to drivers. Lyft says it wants its drivers to have a strong voice within the company. Lyft was the first rideshare company to launch a DAC, and it’s expanding the program to more than 45 cities across North America.- Turner Construction Company’s Memphis office recently graduated nine students from its Turner School of Construction Management (TSCM) program. The education and community outreach program is a free 10-week program open to small, minority-owned, women-owned, and disadvantaged businesses. The program provides an opportunity for firms to improve their economic viability by enhancing their managerial, technical and administrative skills, as well as develop strategic business relationships throughout the industry. Courses are taught by Turner executives, MWBE owners and private industry partners.- Airbnb says that Memphis hosts earned over $339,000 in income while bringing in an additional 2,600 guests to the city during the University of Memphis commencement. This represented the largest surge of guests to Memphis in the history of Airbnb’s platform.- Volunteer Memphis is asking Memphians to submit nominees for a Volunteer Memphis award. Nominations are due today. Anyone can nominate individuals, civic groups, non-profits, and companies who represent excellence in volunteerism for a Volunteer Memphis award. Nominations should be submitted on the Volunteer Memphis website at volunteermemphis.org.NEWS FROM OTHER SOURCES- The Mississippi River Parks Partnership (MRPP) pushed back the construction start for Tom Lee Park to this fall while a petition surfaced online to pause the park plan for more discussion. Read Toby Sells story in the Memphis Flyer here.- Penny Hardaway is the new image of Memphis International Airport. Read Samuel Hardiman's story in the Memphis Business Journal here.- Discount chain Freds is closing more stores, six of them in Memphis. Read the story in The Commercial Appeal here.UPCOMINGGot an event? Send your info to Samuel X. Cicci at scicci@
- The National Endowment for the Arts has given an Art Works grant of $25,000 to Opera Memphis for its 30 Days of Opera program and the McCleave Project, a multi-pronged effort to build a more equitable future for the art. Art Works is the Arts Endowment’s principal grant making program. The City of Germantown has also been recommended for a grant amount of $50,000 to support community design workshops and the creation of a public art master plan.- Running Pony hired T.J. Searcy (pictured) as business development manager. The video production company also promoted Melissa Sweazy and Brian Manis to creative co-directors.- Pinnacle Financial Partners officially opened its new midtown offices on Union Avenue.- Delta Blues Museum announced its participation in the tenth summer of Blue Star Museums, which provides free admission to active-duty military personnel and their families.- Junior Achievement of Memphis added D’Andrea Franklin and Sam King to its board of directors. The nonprofit also received a $65K grant from International Paper Foundation to bolster financial literacy and education for K-12 youth.- UTHSC received accreditation for the school’s new anesthesiology residency program.- LRK’s Crosstown Concourse project was named as a finalist in the 2019 ULI Global Awards for Excellence.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 Susan Stephenson, co-founder, co-chairman, and president, Independent Bank. Former chairman, president, and CEO, Boatmen’s Bank of Tennessee. First female chairman and CEO of a Tennessee bank. Board and Executive Committee of Women’s Foundation for a Greater Memphis and New Memphis Institute, Treasurer, Elmwood Foundation, Member, Baptist Women’s Hospital Advisory Board and Memphis Society of Entrepreneurs. Former Member, St. Louis Federal Reserve Board.For the complete list of Inside Memphis Business Power Players, go here.QUOTABLE“We are petitioning the city to stop any construction/demo until a joint statement is made by MIM/MRPP and until they reach an agreement."- Language in a petition launched this week by Todd Adams.
- The National Endowment for the Arts has given an Art Works grant of $25,000 to Opera Memphis for its 30 Days of Opera program and the McCleave Project, a multi-pronged effort to build a more equitable future for the art. Art Works is the Arts Endowment’s principal grant making program. The City of Germantown has also been recommended for a grant amount of $50,000 to support community design workshops and the creation of a public art master plan.- Running Pony hired T.J. Searcy (pictured) as business development manager. The video production company also promoted Melissa Sweazy and Brian Manis to creative co-directors.- Pinnacle Financial Partners officially opened its new midtown offices on Union Avenue.- Delta Blues Museum announced its participation in the tenth summer of Blue Star Museums, which provides free admission to active-duty military personnel and their families.- Junior Achievement of Memphis added D’Andrea Franklin and Sam King to its board of directors. The nonprofit also received a $65K grant from International Paper Foundation to bolster financial literacy and education for K-12 youth.- UTHSC received accreditation for the school’s new anesthesiology residency program.- LRK’s Crosstown Concourse project was named as a finalist in the 2019 ULI Global Awards for Excellence.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 Susan Stephenson, co-founder, co-chairman, and president, Independent Bank. Former chairman, president, and CEO, Boatmen’s Bank of Tennessee. First female chairman and CEO of a Tennessee bank. Board and Executive Committee of Women’s Foundation for a Greater Memphis and New Memphis Institute, Treasurer, Elmwood Foundation, Member, Baptist Women’s Hospital Advisory Board and Memphis Society of Entrepreneurs. Former Member, St. Louis Federal Reserve Board.For the complete list of Inside Memphis Business Power Players, go here.QUOTABLE“We are petitioning the city to stop any construction/demo until a joint statement is made by MIM/MRPP and until they reach an agreement."- Language in a petition launched this week by Todd Adams. 
