News - Friday, January 7, 2022

Two years ago, Tennessee’s tourism economy was roaring. State and local officials touted record-breaking numbers, and 2019’s many successes were well positioned to carry into 2020 and beyond.

Then came March 2020. The state’s tourism economy, fueled by restaurant, retail, hospitality, attractions and related businesses, was hobbled by the abrupt and total shutdown of operations. Leaders at every level went into crisis mode, putting plans into place to share information and support around all things COVID-pandemic related. Those included daily, then weekly, strategy meetings between state tourism officials and their local counterparts, chambers of commerce and their member businesses and other stakeholders that continue today.

Attorney Isiah Robinson has what he calls a conundrum.

It’s not related to his practice. As an associate at Chambliss, Bahner & Stophel, he enjoys the work he’s doing as part of the firm’s litigation section.

Robinson, 32, also handles the occasional estate matter, which he also likes, he says.

Jeremy Jenkins has joined RP Homes as chief financial officer and chief operating officer.

Jenkins is responsible for leading the company’s investment and financial strategy as well as overseeing the operations of the company.

Jenkins comes to RP Homes from Regions Bank, where he acquired over 16 years of management and commercial banking experience.

As we begin a new year, my term as president of Greater Chattanooga Realtors comes to an end. In my final weekly column, I wish to thank those who helped me this past year, look back at what we achieved and look forward to 2022.

Last year was a tumultuous time in real estate and virtually every other facet of life. COVID-19 taught us our lives could change seemingly in an instant.

Every year, getting healthier is one of the top New Year resolutions. This declaration is even more important in our current pandemic climate.

As you make your goals to improve your diet and increase exercise, it’s important to also evaluate your home environment.

My new year’s resolution for 2022 came to me in a flash. I didn’t resolve to lose weight, promise my dad I’d call more or swear off bad episodic television. Rather, I decided to stop putting off trying new things.

I made this decision not while standing on a scale, talking with my aging father or watching “NCIS: Birmingham.” (No, it’s not a thing, but don’t think CBS won’t go there.)

Chattanooga’s Department of Equity and Community Engagement will hold the annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service Monday, Jan. 17, in partnership with the University of Tennessee, River City Company, the NAACP, Scenic Cities Beautiful, the Bessie Smith Cultural Center and the Unity Group of Chattanooga.

The arrival of the first baby born in 2022 in Chattanooga took place at Erlanger East Hospital.

William and Jayde Copeland of Soddy Daisy welcomed their baby girl, Willow, into the world at 1:32 a.m. Baby Willow entered the world weighing 7 pounds and 4 ounces and was 19.5 inches long. Both mom and baby are doing well. Willow is the Copelands’ first child.

BrightBridge Capital has named Mike Matousek a senior loan officer. Matousek previously served as a commercial banker, chief financial officer and credit adviser. He brings more than two decades of experience to the new role.

The Phi Beta Kappa graduate from Clemson University began his career as a credit analyst.

My wife has unofficially resolved to adopt a positive attitude toward 2022, an aspiration I would like to be able to join. But the goal is complicated for me by the fact that legislators are about to come back to town.

This is not a group that inspires much confidence in me. Aside from the occasional approval of a David Crockett statue here, an adoption of a “Volunteer State” nickname there, their efforts seem designed to leave reasonable people shaking their heads and wondering, What the. ...

When you invest, you incur risk – there’s no avoiding it. But the concept of “risk” may be more expansive than you realized. And by understanding the different types of investment risk and how these risks can be addressed, you can improve your skills as an investor.

You probably know to plan and save for the big and boring expenses, aka financial needs. But what about the fun stuff? Expenses that don’t put a roof over your head but do provide joy, rejuvenation and other hard-to-quantify benefits are worth saving for, too.

It was of little consolation to Tennessee that the Vols played in one of the most entertaining bowl games of the season. They wanted to win.

But even with the setback, the first season under Josh Heupel can be judged as nothing but a success.

If Derrick Henry is the face and the heart of the Titans franchise, then D’Onta Foreman might be its soul.

Foreman, who began the 2022 season out of football until the Titans re-signed him to help replace the injured Henry in November, rushed for 132 yards and a touchdown in Sunday’s AFC South championship-clinching win against the Miami Dolphins.

Your New Years’ resolution was to find a new job. And, well, that ain’t gonna happen. Everybody’s hiring, but they’re not hiring you. And it’s looking like you may have to stay right where you are, work-wise. Yippee, you’ll have to learn to cope for the next several months.

A key part of the car-buying process is familiarizing yourself with some of the key terms you’ll encounter on automaker websites and dealership lots. You want to ensure you’re getting the right features in your new vehicle. But if you’re new to buying cars or aren’t familiar with auto industry lingo, a conversation with the salesperson can go right over your head.