4TH QUARTER CLARKSVILLE BUSINESS JOURNAL

Made In Clarksville: Hankook Tires

Hankook Tire recently announced a $90 million expansion of its Clarksville facility, which will allow the company to double its annual production to 11 million units.

The South Korean-owned company, which began operating here in 2017, employs more than 1,000 people in Clarksville, and quickly became one of middle Tennessee’s crown jewels of manufacturing.

The facility occupies more than 1.5 million square feet of space on nearly 500 acres in the industrial park. This additional spending brings the company’s total investment in ClarksvilleMontgomery County to approximately $1 billion.

The Clarksville plant is the company’s eighth, worldwide, and first in the United States. Shortly after opening this facility, Hankook established its corporate headquarters in Nashville, an additional multi-million dollar investment that created approximately one-hundred more jobs.

Recently, a quite-detailed press release was sent out regarding an expansion of its Dynapro product line, and the addition of the brand-new Rugged Terrain Dynapro XT, and next generation Dynapro AT2 Xtreme.

The Dynapro XT is available now in thirty sizes, while the Dynapro AT2 Xtreme is currently available in thirty-two sizes. Hankook plans to continue adding to the Dynapro AT2 line-up, eventually reaching ninety-eight total sizes by 2022.

As Hankook’s first rugged terrain product, the Dynapro XT features high-rigidity polygonal blocks, and wide zig-zag grooves that offer excellent off-road traction in rugged conditions, as well as an aggressive saw-toothed sidewall design that provides protection against punctures. The Dynapro XT also comes equipped with a 3-Peak Mountain Snowflake rating, allowing for excellent performance in severe snow conditions. Additionally, its optimized pattern provides a quiet and comfortable ride using arranged pitch variation technology, chamfered edges that minimize road impact, and shoulder block cushions that absorb road noise.

The Dynapro AT2 Xtreme, successor to the popular Dynapro AT2, has been re-imagined with a more aggressive shoulder design, enhanced noise reduction, and longer mileage. These tires come with a 60k mileage warranty. It’s aggressive high-depth sidewall blocks and cross-combined shoulder scoops enhance off-road traction and help prevent cuts and abrasions.

The Dynapro AT2 Xtreme is also 3-Peak Mountain Snowflake rated, built with multi-directional grooves and sipes, as well as biting block edges that provide added traction in wet and severe snow conditions.

Although more aggressive than its predecessor, the Dynapro AT2 Xtreme still provides quiet and comfortable on-road performance with its noisereducing tie-bars and staged block edges.

“What makes the off-roading and over-landing communities so incredible is their enthusiasm and deep knowledge of every upgrade to their vehicle, and tires are no exception,” said Curtis Brison, Vice President of PCLT Sales for Hankook Tire. “Having the opportunity to further support that next adventure and expand our off-road Dynapro offering to include the XT and AT2 Xtreme, along with the heavy-duty MT2, is an exciting moment.”

“Built to perform in extreme rugged terrains, the Dynapro XT will provide drivers with functional off-road performance, without compromising style, comfort and quietness,” said Kijong Kil, Vice President of RE Development. “The Dynapro AT2 Xtreme has been upgraded from its predecessor to include a more aggressive shoulder and sidewall design to handle off-road terrains, while maintaining its highway performance.

“It is built for the driver who is looking for balanced, everyday functionality with added all terrain capabilities.”

With the addition of the Dynapro XT and Dynapro AT2 Xtreme, Hankook’s Dynapro family of products now covers on-road, off-road, all-terrain and rugged terrain segments to suit the needs of both Light Truck and SUV/CUV consumers. The Dynapro XT and Dynapro AT2 Xtreme are available now, with the continued release of additional sizes throughout the remainder of 2021 and 2022.

Similar to comments we’ve heard from other companies that have recently been attracted to Clarksville-Montgomery County, Hankook’s leadership cites, as motivating factors, this community’s ideal location and access to interstate 24, its young and diverse workforce, and friendly political environment.

This latest investment brings them in line with their original phase 2 projections for the Clarksville plant. Those projections also estimated a workforce of nearing 1,800 by this stage in the company’s growth.

Hankook has been hailed by local and state leadership since its arrival in Clarksville and Tennessee. This community is happy to share in Hankook’s continued growth and success.

Clarksville-Montgomery County Green Certification Program Winners Announced

It was announced recently that Bill Harpel, Military Liaison for the City of Clarksville, had been presented the Ron Smithfield Persistence Award at the Clarksville-Montgomery County Green Certification Banquet on Sept. 28.

The award was presented by the Board of the Green Certification Program to Harpel for his dedication to the Program and his commitment to the environment and the community. Harpel has been the longest-serving active member of the Green Certification Board since he joined in 2014 and has been instrumental in guiding and growing the Program. Harpel also serves as the City liaison for the newly formed City of Clarksville Sustainability Board and has worked diligently to grow recycling within City facilities.

“Bill Harpel is an invaluable part of the Mayor’s Office and our City family. He is equal parts light and salt in his heart and possesses a desire to serve,” said Mayor Joe Pitts. “Bill goes above and beyond to make impacts in this community and has done so his entire life. I’m proud to have him on my staff and equally proud to see him receive such a prestigious award from such a great organization.”

Harpel is the first City employee to receive the award.

The Ron Smithfield Persistence Award is presented to an individual (cannot be an organization) that has shown dedication to the Green Certification Program, the local community, and the environment as a whole over multiple years, a career, or a lifetime. The individual has met challenges and risen past those This individual is a champion within the community for the environment.

That same evening, Furniture Connection/ Red Knight Distribution was announced as the first company in the Clarksville-Montgomery County Green Certification Program to receive its platinum certification.

Dani Berggren, Vice President of Furniture Connection talked about winning the award and her company’s ongoing ‘Green’ efforts.

“Within the program there are four levels, Bronze, silver, gold, and platinum,” Berggren said. “What we’re known for is our recycling of styrofoam, plastics, and cardboard. We have the only styrofoam densifier in the area. That machine gets to about 210 degrees and then melts a 2’ x 6’ x 2’’ piece of styrofoam down to the size of a softball. It’s a really cool process. Once it’s melted it’s placed into a square form, which allows for easy stacking. From there, we resell it, which prevents it from going to the landfill.”

The recycled product is then used in the production of toys, packing materials and other products.

“We don’t do it for the money, we’re just trying to do our part,” Berggren said. “So far, since we joined the program in 2012, our efforts have helped prevent about 400 tons of waste going into our local landfill.”

Berggren’s company has a similar process for its cardboard. They bale it, and once they’ve collected a semi-trailer full, it’s sold to a place that can reuse that product as well. So, how did Berggren’s company get into the CMC Green Certification Program?

“For us, it started when we built our new Red Knight Distribution Center in 2012,” Berggren said. “We decided to use LED lights, and timers to light the forty-two rows of the warehouse. If you’re not in a particular row, those lights aren’t on. They turn on automatically when someone enters the aisle. That, coupled with the use of LED lights lowered our energy usage, and saved us quite a bit on our bill. Honestly, that got us in the door.” installing water fountains to cut down on the use of plastic bottles.

“We also use a system called Dispatch Track for our deliveries,” Berggren said. “Our favorite thing about that system is that it allows us to import our customer’s information, and route our delivery trucks more efficiently. If we have fifty deliveries, we separate those onto five trucks. Then, we go to our farthest client first, and work back toward the distribution center. That saves on emissions and fuel, makes us more efficient, and better able to designate delivery times for our customers.”

Together, the furniture stores and distribution company now employ about one-hundred people.

“We try to do as much as we can,” Berggren said. “In our stores. they do double-sided printing, and recycle paper. They separate cans, bottles, etc. Our distribution center definitely leads the way in our company’s green certification efforts. The distribution center impresses me. They are always coming up with ideas I hadn’t even thought of.

“They reuse paper. They’ll cut used sheets of paper into smaller pieces and use them like post-it notes, which lowers our office supplies expense. We have dresser boxes out there, where they separate plastic, styrofoam and trash. The guys keep up with it every single day, and it has become part of our normal everyday process.”

Should other companies get involved with the program? And if so, when?

a new facility, or remodeling their space, should consider switching to LED lights, and recycling paper,” Berggren said. “Simple things like that can save them a lot of money, while at the same time doing something good for the environment.”

Berggren says, what, and how they are doing things, makes her feel proud. “I don’t see why local businesses don’t do everything they can. It’s a wonderful feeling, knowing we aren’t just putting our styrofoam and cardboard out there. We’re doing something good for Clarksville.”

Berggren’s company was named Recyclers of the year for 2021. “It means a lot,”Berggren said. “And, it’s something we intend to keep up with. There are other businesses within the program, and to see them win awards makes us proud as well. It’s great to see what other businesses are trying to do, and the new ideas they have.

“But, bringing that award back here to the distribution center was nice. I can show the warehouse guys that our efforts aren’t being ignored. It gives us a boost, being recognized for something we do every day. We’re proud of this program. We’re not going to stop. We’re continually adding to our business, and always striving to move forward, and do all we can to help Clarksville.” Carlye Sommers is in charge of the CMC Green Certification program. She talked about its benefits, not just for the companies involved, but for our local environment as well.

“The actions our member companies are taking right now will have important, long-term benefits,” Sommer said. “The more organizations we have that are focused on sustainable practices, reducing energy use, and waste, the less impact we as a community will have on the environment. These reductions directly relate to greenhouse gas emissions. And, reducing the amount of waste going to the landfill contributes to that facility’s longer life.”

Sommers says one of the great benefits for participating companies is the tremendous networking opportunities that are created.

“This program helps them meet with other businesses that are utilizing similar practices,” Sommers said. “At the same time, it allows them to have a place in the community where their customers can see that they are good environmental stewards, who are choosing to do the right thing.” The CMC Green Certification program currently has 141 members, and Sommers says getting started with the program is simpler than it might sound.

“It sounds like a lot, but it’s not,” Sommers said. “Organizations begin with a workshop series. I teach it in person or online, or even at their business. I tell them what’s going on, and what the challenges are, and I teach them how to create an environmental plan, and set smart goals. It’s important that they set goals at their workshop that are specific to them, and achievable. “Some of them become certified as soon as they complete the workshop, others might take a couple of months to reach that first level. We have a spreadsheet they can fill out, there are four levels bronze, silver, gold and platinum. Right now, we have four local organizations that have achieved platinum. Red Knight, APSU, City of Clarksville’s Parks & Recreation Department, and Avanti, a manufacturing company in the industrial park.

More information is available on their website at www.mcgtn.org/green.

We believe that anything worth doing is worth doing with excellence, and that there could be no more worthy cause than teaching young children to become the best that they can be. We believe that God expects us to give our very best to the next generation.

Come Fall In Love With A New Furry Friend This Holiday Season!

Companion Pet Rescue of Middle Tennessee is a 501c3 nonprofit organization that helps unwanted and abused dogs find forever homes. Take a look at our facebook page to see dogs currently available for adoption and the application process.

CMCSS Teacher Residency Pathways Program

The Clarksville-Montgomery County School System, like so many systems around the country, is currently experiencing a teacher shortage. One innovative solution that CMCSS has implemented is a Teacher Residency Pathways program, which studies have shown can produce more effective teachers.

CMCSS’s Anthony Johnson provided this overview of TRP. The Teacher Residency Program at CMCSS provides a pathway to teaching for those interested in a non-traditional approach to a degree or certification.

Teacher Residents are educational assistants who contribute to excellence by providing instructional and non-instructional support to students while learning best practices for a career in education from an outstanding CMCSS educator.

CMCSS has partnered with colleges and universities in the surrounding area, including Austin Peay State University, Nashville State Community College, and Lipscomb University.

Residents will incur no expenses for tuition or textbooks. During this time, residents will also serve as full-time Clarksville-Montgomery County School System (CMCSS) employees at a Title I school as teacher residents/ educational assistants.

We recently spoke with CMCSS’s TRP team Dr. Phyllis Casebolt, and Education Pipeline Facilitators LaVetta Radford and Traci Koon.

“Starting in November/December CMCSS will be holding informational meetings for those who want to earn a degree in three years, with no tuition fees, cost for text books, etc,” Casebolt said. “This is all part of the Teacher Residency Program, which is open to high school students community members and classified employees Teachers ???

Casebolt says this program is available for people with or without a bachelors degree. The program assists candidates in attending university where they’ll earn a certification to teach middle school, or a masters degree to teach elementary school.

“They begin their time with CMCSS as an educational assistant,” Casebolt said. “They’ll be paired with a top-notch teacher, so they can learn from the best of the best, and see the bridge from what they are learning in their courses to the daily practice in the classroom. They will get full-time benefits of a CMCSS employee, and the pay of an educational assistant, all while attending university classes in the afternoons, and completing coursework requirements during evenings and weekends.” The cost is split between the school district and the university. Candidates don’t have to pay anything. Non-degree candidates can receive their bachelors degree in three years. They would start working with CMCSS in August of next year.

“There is a national shortage of teachers,” Casebolt said. “Historically, there was an overabundance, especially of elementary teachers, but the shortage has finally hit CMCSS. We spend a lot of time recruiting, and have decided that investing in our own community can be a great opportunity for us to find the talent that is already here. We give them the opportunity to get the required education and training, and we hope they will choose to sustain a career with CMCSS.

“The pandemic hit us in many ways. There is a lot happening with people right now. As a military town, we hire a lot of military spouses. We invest in them, knowing they may leave in a couple of years. There is no way to plan for their departure, as they can receive orders at any time, and that really impacts our district’s hiring needs.”

Casebolt says these staffing struggles are occurring while our student population continues to increase.

She continues, “some of our programs offer a dual certification, for example k-5, and a special education certificate. The needs of students in special populations continue to grow, and we have to meet their requirements.

“We received a diversity innovation planning grant. We did research and found that Fresno Unified School District in CA had one of the nation’s few Grow Your Own programs. We got a $10,000 grant to research it, but there wasn’t much funding.”

The program is currently serving 160 teacher residents. Emphasis with the program is on title 1 schools, which have the highest % of poverty level families.

“We’re trying to have equity for them,” Casebolt said. “There is a benefit to having additional educational assistants in the classroom, who directly support student learning. We have anecdotal data, and we’re going through a research process. In one of our title 1 schools we had a lot of trouble managing student behaviors, which was a distraction. Extra adults in the classroom helped to transform the culture of the school, because they

were able to address student needs immediately. Incidents of student discipline decreased, achievement and learning increased.”

Residency work began at CMCSS at the beginning of the 2018-19 school year.

“I’m an Education Pipeline Facilitator,” LaVetta Radford said. “Diversity was the main problem that prompted some of this work. We are trying to get our teaching pool to mimic the diversity in the district. We are trying to have more diversity to connect students to people who look like them, or speak their language. We have some residents in our Spanish immersion program. A lot of research supports the theory that this approach contributes to increased student success.”

Traci Koon added, “we also provide wrap-around support for those in the program, which we feel is very instrumental in student success. A lot of these residents are first-time or first-time in a long time college students, and we provide what we call recitation sessions for each of their courses. If they’re in a college math class we’re providing tutoring support for that, and content support outside the classroom. It’s a very important aspect of our program, content support, professional coaching, any help we can provide them.”

Radford elaborated, “the US Department of Education states that 50% of new teachers will leave the profession within their first five years. With us providing the residency model, and the wrap-around support, our hope is that we won’t see that loss. We want to be able to retain our teachers. We offer ongoing support, even after they have completed training. Maybe we can decrease the burnout withing the profession.” Casebolt reiterated that point. “Our goal is to make them long-time members of the CMCSS team. We are looking to expand academic offerings. When we look at the benefit of the West Creek High School Teaching Academy, we see it as a bridge at the high school level that can help us with recruitment down the line for these residency programs. We haven’t opened this opportunity to every high school student, but those academy students have the opportunity to get hands-on, minds-on experiences with elementary school students, as a high school senior.

“They get to go to the elementary school and help with small-group reading. That gives students an experiential understanding, as opposed to just learning about the history of Horace Mann.”

Radford interjected, “US Census indicated that in 1975 22% of college freshmen declared education as their major, in 2017 only 4.6% declared education as their major.”

So, what type of person are they looking for, and with what qualifications?

“We’re looking for people with the passion and calling to teach students, people who want to be in the classroom, who see the value of education, and the value of our future,” Koon said. “It’s not just one or two things.

Casebolt continued, “And, it’s about work-ethic, and determination. It’s not an easy pathway to earn a degree or a license. It’s demanding, but well worth it to have this opportunity for a free education. But, there is still a cost to a free education.”

Residential Development: Lawson Mabry

Lawson Mabry is a developer in ClarksvilleMontgomery County. A man who generally keeps a low profile and isn’t normally one for the spotlight, he’s modest about what he does. But, when you start looking into it, he and his partners have done a lot over the years to help this area keep pace with the rapid growth, while at the same time incorporating national trends into their development of new subdivisions, or rather, neighborhoods.

“It’s funny, my kids were about fifteen before they could tell anybody what I did for a living,” Mabry said. “They couldn’t really describe it. I have a degree in English from APSU. After college, I went to work with my father at Conroy, Marable & Holleman, where he was a partner.

“Early on they let me participate in real estate developments here in town. I learned how to buy land, divide subdivisions,and sell them. Over the years, I got away from real estate sales. I retired from that about ten years ago. Now I’m a full-time developer with my partner Chad Byard of Byard Construction Co.”

Mabry and Byard like to do fairly large-scale projects. They just finished up the last section of Easthaven subdivision, about 250 homes on 100 acres in Sango.

“There is a swimming pool, a fitness center and playgrounds in that development,” Mabry said. “We like to provide amenities. We like to develop under the cluster ordinance, which, in exchange for setting aside 15% of the land, allows us to build on smaller lots.”

There are a lot of reasons for that modern approach to building on smaller lots, reasons that appeal to just about everyone, from homeowners to government officials.

“These days, most people don’t want big yards,” Mabry said. “The City and County don’t want that either. It means more streets for them to maintain, and less tax revenue, and causes a community to prematurely use up all its farmland. There is only so much land in Montgomery County. We really need to provide higher density, and higher quality amenities for residents.

“Ideally, we like to locate a number of properties at different price-points within the same development. What we’re moving to, hopefully, are developments where we have a mix of attached and detached housing. We tend to segregate housing by attached and detached. Ideally, we want to create neighborhoods where someone could spend their whole life. As they get older, maybe they can move into a smaller house in the same neighborhood, and have the same neighbors.”

“Clarksville is behind the nation-wide trend toward this type of development,” Mabry said. “We now have a fairly progressive planning commission. Jeff Tyndall and his staff are doing a good job of updating our local ordinances.”

Mabry joked that no one is from Clarksville. “My family has been here since the early 1800’s,” he said. “We’ve attended the same church since the 1830’s. It seems to be that the perfect time for people in Clarksville is the day they move here. Right after their move, they don’t want anybody else moving here.” He laughed. “I’ve chaired Aspire fundraisers twice, and we’ve raised $7 million for industrial development, and quality of life issues. We spend millions recruiting industry here, but when the workers start arriving, we don’t want them. We want the industry, we just don’t want all those new people living next door to us.” One of Mabry’s newest projects is on the old Hod Lisenbee farm, located on Dover Road just past Dotsonville Road. Lisenbee was a professional baseball player, a notable contemporary of Babe Ruth.

“We’re really excited,” Mabry said. “We acquired his old house, which, sadly, we had to tear down because it was in such bad shape. We kept the silo, and we’re putting a ball field in the neighborhood, as an homage to Hod. The frontage is commercial on Highway 79. It’s zoned R-4 so there will be condominiums. The houses will be in the back part of the subdivision. We’re also hoping to maintain the silo, it’s really cool. There will be a multipurpose baseball and soccer field for the kids, playgrounds, pavilions, and a basketball court. All this area in the front (Mabry points to a map on his computer screen) is a common area.”

A middle school is planned to go next to the elementary school, both of which are within walking distance of this subdivision.

“We’ve already talked to the school about a pedestrian entrance, and a vehicle entrance from the neighborhood,” Mabry said.. “These kids will be able to walk, or ride their bikes to school, and that saves Montgomery County from having to buy buses to service this neighborhood. There will be sidewalks, too. I think we’re looking at 230 single family homes, with the higher-end in the $350,000 range, and 150 - 200 town-home units that will be affordable, probably in the $200,000 range.”

Mabry says this is a great example of a large tract that will have neighborhood commercial uses, for maybe a restaurant or dry cleaner. The Mary Ireland property is nearby, and it’s also currently being developed. All this is in the urban growth plan that was approved by the County Commission and the City Council. The urban growth boundary currently goes to Liberty Church Road.

“They have designated this area for urban growth,” Mabry said. “Growth in this direction has been part of the vision for years. The City and County love to see houses being built close to schools. Also, this is 230 homes that wont

go on frontage lots out in the county. Builders who are putting a house on five acres would use more than 1,000 acres of farmland to build 230 homes.

“They’ll need to make changes to the roads and related infrastructure, but they don’t build roads before they need them. There will probably be a stoplight at Dotsonville Road, and maybe one at our entrance.”

Construction won’t begin for a couple of years. The additional property Mabry and Byard are looking at may not see construction start for five years or more.

“The problem we have right now is runaway housing price increases,” Mabry said. “We’re really struggling. The supply of lots is inelastic. Time is a problem. By the time we do all our surveys and everything, this plan will change. From the time we start until we can sell a lot to a builder, it takes about three years. We have to deal with things like sink holes, creating retention basins, lakes. That’s why you have engineers.”

Mabry says he and his partner don’t like to cut down trees, for aesthetics and cost. They typically sell to builders, and they don’t build the houses themselves.

“We supply local builders with lots, that’s basically what we do,” Mabry said. “I work with about twenty builders. Currently, we have a lot of people moving here. We’re landing industry and we have to make sure we have homes for them. Industry will stop coming here if they can’t buy houses. The ‘Dover Road’ side of the city is one of the next booming areas of Montgomery County. Clarksville Gas & Water has recently come to an agreement with Woodlawn Utility District to provide sewer, that’s what is driving so much growth in that area. Once the sewer is there, the area can be developed with density. Without it, it can’t be done. Sewer prevents sprawl.”

But, for Mabry, it’s about more than just providing a house.

“We provide a neighborhood,” He said. “We set up neighborhood associations that help control fencing and usage, and it makes for a nice safe affordable place for people to live.

“We’re doing a development on Dunbar Cave Road right now, called The Oaks. That’s 380 homes with a fitness center, a pool, a dog park, a pavilion and playgrounds. The lots are the same size as the Lisenbee property, but the prices might be slightly higher, based on the area. “Glenwood was built in 1930, and it’s built around a park. This neighborhood proves that you don’t have to have a big house to have a nice neighborhood. Some of the houses in here are only about 1,000 sf. The amenities are what makes it nice, not the size of the house.” Mabry shares some bits of knowledge; you have to have some density to get the nice amenities. Commercial development usually follows residential growth, etc. He is staying true to his vision. He and Byard don’t rush these projects, and they’re always thinking long-term. What will make these neighborhoods attractive now, but also ten or twenty years from now?

“It will probably take five years for us to build out the first section of the Lisenbee property,” Mabry said. “Highway 374 is going to really change things. This is an area in transition, property values are definitely going to go up. We live here, and we take pride in our developments. I challenge you to find one of our developments that’s not nice. We want it to be nice twenty years from now. We set reasonable strong codes that govern how it gets built-out and governed, and provide quality amenities.

“We’ve got The Oaks, Easthaven, Lisenbee Farms, Dunbar Bluff, which only has 34 lots, but about 15 of them overlook the river. We designated the bluff as a common area, so the trees will remain, and we’re building a beautiful structure that will overlook the river. Out goal is to improve the quality of life. In larger markets they have these amenities, we’re trying to push the envelope, and bring these ideas to Clarksville.”

#STRONGERTOGETHER

APSU business faculty member advancing women and gender equity with her research at Harvard

Dr. Elif Demiral Saglam, Austin Peay State University assistant professor of economics, recently embarked on her second year as a research fellow with the Harvard Kennedy School’s Women and Public Policy program. She is the first APSU faculty member to receive this honor, and the fellowship is a continuation of her desire to advance women and gender equity in the workforce.

The fellowship enables Saglam to connect with other like-minded researchers at Harvard. She participates in weekly research seminars, actively explores new research ideas with Harvard faculty and fellows, and has already delivered two research presentations. Her work aims to inform policymakers and offer alternative organizational practices to advance women’s presence in all fields and at all levels.

“As an Austin Peay faculty member, I incorporate what we know and discover about gender inequalities and the possible solutions into my teaching,” Saglam said. “I am highly motivated to train future leaders who can create a more gender-equal world while also furnishing my female students with the practical skills and tools to navigate in the current system.”

In her research, Saglam uses behavioral and experimental methods to recommend evidence-based strategies that promote equal and biasfree opportunities for women and men. She studies the behavioral differences between the sexes that contribute to widely observed gender gaps in the economy.

One stream of her research investigates the willingness of men and women to engage in competitive environments. Along with her co-authors, Saglam confirmed previous research that suggests women shy away from competition. However, Saglam and her team discovered that no gender gap exists when competition is against one’s own performance (self-competition). This finding provides a possible solution to reduce gender gaps in the labor market.

Creating opportunities for self-competition in the workplace can make women as equally competitive as men, reducing the gaps in earning and representation. Fostering selfcompetition can be especially important to encourage female participation in more competitive yet lucrative fields, such as technology and finance.

Saglam also studies the differences in confidence between men and women and the role these differences play in employment decisions.

“We cannot turn our back to half of the population and let gender biases and other barriers restrain women’s aspirations for life,” she said. “We must uncover the reasons why there are gender inequalities in economic opportunities and discover what the successful interventions could be to close such gaps. I am greatly honored and humbled by the opportunity to connect with the Harvard faculty and fellows, whose expertise and global reach influence important decision-makers worldwide. I also feel privileged to be able to share my experiences as a Harvard fellow with my students at APSU!”

For information about the College of Business and its faculty www.apsu.edu/business

BRANDY

HAM

“Staying on top of social media is one of the hardest parts of growing your business! It is so important to have a social media content schedule to make sure you are staying on top of your goals and staying consistent.”

As technology advances, so does the field of marketing. Marketing is no longer simply taking an ad out in the newspaper, or recording a speech for the radio, but has instead now evolved into the realm of social media. Nowadays, more and more people get their news and information from their favorite social media outlet. Whether it be Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter a new age of marketing has surfaced. Because of its strong presence, there is now a dedicated field to this new in Clarksville marketing trend, Social Media Marketing.

Clarksville native, Brandy Ham, started her own Media Marketing company in the hopes to help out local businesses. “I’ve taken a real interest in media marketing. It’s like a newfound passion of mine,” Ham explained.

“I started this new journey at the end of August, and it’s already really taking off. I work with a few local businesses in Clarksville, and I also have a business in Tampa, Florida as well. I work with an accountant, flooring company, restoration company, real estate, realtor, and auto glass shop. So far I’ve been receiving great feedback, and one day I hope to make this my full-time career,” Ham added.

(931) 572-7578 | contact@brandyhammediamarketing.com | www.brandyhammediamarketing.com

Facebook • Instagram • Google My Business • TikTok

Florim USA Expansion Plans

Announcements of new businesses coming to Clarksville-Montgomery County, and of current businesses expanding, are happening at a quick pace of late. Michelle Hueffmeier of the Clarksville Area Chamber of Commerce, recently shared this information.

On behalf of the Clarksville-Montgomery County Industrial Development Board (IDB), the Clarksville-Montgomery County Economic Development Council (EDC) is pleased to announce Florim USA, is expanding at their Clarksville, Tenn facility.

The latest expansion will include additional production equipment, along with plans for a showroom in their admin building. Florim will make a capital investment of $35 Million, and create thirty-three new jobs.

Florim USA, which rebranded in the American market as Milestone, employs over 300 at their Clarksville facility, is a major leader in the flooring industry, and a committed community partner. The company is also dedicated to environmental sustainability. In January of 2021, the company obtained its B Corp Certification, and in 2020 was awarded the prestigious Business Recycler of the Year award by the Tennessee Recycling Coalition, for its commitment to waste prevention, and recycling.

“Congratulations to our friends at Florim on their expansion,” Montgomery County Mayor Jim Durrett said. “I am thrilled with Florim’s continued growth and prosperity in Montgomery County. They have been a long-time community partner, and impressive steward of the environment, which we greatly appreciate. I wish them the best in the next phase of their expansion as they continue production of their high-quality porcelain tile.” Clarksville Mayor Joe Pitts shared these words of praise for Florim. “It’s great to see the growth of our existing industries, even as we continue to add new manufacturers to our local economy. Florim USA has been a mainstay in our local business park, and they have consistently grown jobs and improved their facility with new investments. They also are a leader in making porcelain tile manufacturing as sustainable and environmentally sound as possible, and we are thankful that they are a great corporate citizen.”

Florim USA is the American subsidiary of Florim Group, which is based in Italy. Florim USA is recognized as one of the largest and most technologically advanced porcelain tile facilities in North America.

In part, the company’s mission statement talks about Florim’s dedication to the environment, “Florim USA is also committed to the environment, observing environmental regulations through certified quality management systems and ecological processes.” The company is also lauded for its innovation.

“Business retention and expansion (BR&E), and connecting with local industries on their needs is a key priority for the EDC,” EDC CEO Buck Dellinger said. It is amazing to see a longstanding community industry thriving and growing in Clarksville-Montgomery County, and we look forward to their continued success.”

Shea Hopkins, Executive Director of Clarksville-Montgomery County IDB added, “I am thrilled to celebrate an expansion among one of our well-established industries and congratulate Florim USA on their continued growth and success.”

MEMBER FDIC

Planters Bank

1312 S. Main Street Hopkinsville, Kentucky 42240

Media Contact Sarah Whitaker e.sarah.whitaker@plantersbankonline.com m. 270-885-7674 Planters Bank announces today the kickoff of its annual Season of Giving. 12 area organizations throughout Western Kentucky and Tennessee will be supported through the community giving campaign. The campaign kicks off today and goes through the end of December.

Entering its eighth year, the Planters Bank Season of Giving is a community tradition that has a goal of bringing awareness to local non-profit organizations’ missions at the same time as fundraising for the organizations. This year, the focus is on giving back to the children in our communities. “We have so many deserving organizations in our communities that help support children’s needs. It’s important for us to bolster the efforts of these non-profits who shape the futures of our communities,” says Planters Bank CEO Elizabeth McCoy.

Based on the popularity of last year’s Season of Giving gift sets, Planters Bank is once again offering a Kentucky gift and a Tennessee gift – this time with a new design and new items included. The custom designed gift tins are filled with a matching flour sack towel and a custom state-shaped ornament. Planters Bank commissioned the items from local branded merchandise agency Williams Advertising. Each set retails for $20 and is available for purchase in every Planters Bank location beginning today. 100% of the purchase price of each gift is donated directly to the organization supported in that branch (see list).

In addition to supporting these groups through purchases in each branch, the bank has brought back their tradition of donating $25 for every checking or savings account opened mentioning the Season of Giving when visiting a Planters Bank location. Visit the Planters Bank Facebook , Instagram and Twitter to learn more and participate, visit https://expectgreatthingsbank.com/giving/ to learn more about the non-profits and the campaign gift items, and find out more about Planters Bank’s philanthropic efforts at plantersbankonline.com.

ABOUT PLANTERS BANK

Planters Bank is headquartered in Hopkinsville, KY and has twelve locations throughout Western Kentucky and Tennessee. Planters Bank is a community bank that is committed to delivering an exceptional banking experience all while giving back to the community. Find out more about Planters Bank by visiting www.plantersbankonline.com.

‘Tis the Season – the Planters Bank Season of Giving

12 local non-profit organizations benefit from annual Season of Giving campaign starting today.

For Immediate Release 11/1/2021

Featured Organizations & Branch Locations

FUEL Planters Bank - Rossview 495 Dunlop Lane #101, Clarksville, TN 37042 Happy Feet Planters Bank - Providence 2251 Westerfield Drive, Providence, KY 42450 Dreamchasers Planters Bank - Hilldale 1971 Madison Street, Clarksville, TN 37043 Union County Happy Packs Planters Bank - Sturgis 520 Adams Street, Sturgis, KY 42459 Boys & Girls Club Planters Bank - Main 1312 S. Main Street, Hopkinsville, KY 42240 The Caleb Cares Project Planters Bank - Sango 894 Hwy. 76 Clarksville, TN 37043 Happy Feet Planters Bank - Princeton 208 N. Jefferson Street, Princeton, KY 42445 Men2Be Planters Bank - Indian Hills 3103 Canton Street, Hopkinsville, KY 42240 Big Brothers Big Sisters Planters Bank - Commerce 325 Commerce Street, Clarksville, TN 37040 Family Resource and Youth Services Center Planters Bank - Dawson Springs 50 Oak Heights, Dawson Springs, KY 42408 Imagination Library Planters Bank - Boulevard 4195 Ft. Campbell Blvd. Hopkinsville, KY 42240 CASA of MWKY Planters Bank - Sebree 796 Hwy. 41 N., Sebree, KY 42455

Purchase your commemorative gift set for $20 at any Planters Bank location. 100% of the proceeds from purchases are donated to the Season of Giving organizations. Visit www.greatthingsbank.com/season to learn more. The 2021 Season of Giving supports:

The Caleb Cares Project

Planters Bank - Sango Dreamchasers

Planters Bank - Hilldale Big Brothers Big Sisters

Planters Bank - Commerce FUEL

Planters Bank - Rossview

Serving Tennessee and Western Kentucky with 12 convenient locations.

Men2Be

Planters Bank - Indian Hills Boys & Girls Club

Planters Bank - Main Imagination Library

Planters Bank - Boulevard Happy Feet

Planters Bank - Princeton

Happy Feet

Planters Bank - Providence CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) of MWKY

Planters Bank - Sebree Family Resource and Youth Services Center

Planters Bank - Dawson Springs Union County Happy Packs

Planters Bank - Sturgis

OF GREATER NASHVILLE AND WESTERN KY

TEXTILES, ELECTRONICS AND ART RESTORATION

CRDN has always been at the forefront of innovation. Since our founding in 2001, we have set the bar for textile restoration and continue to raise it as we refine our processes and find new ways to serve our customers.

Now, we’ve taken everything we know and learned about restoration and applied it to restoring consumer electronics. We understand that textiles and electronics are more than a collection of “things.” That’s why we built technology, processes, and a nationwide network of service experts to meticulously restore items to their former glory.

Shinhung Global USA, Inc. Soon Expanding To Clarksville

Clarksville Area Chamber of Commerce’s Michelle Hueffmeier recently shared the announcement that South Korean logistics company Shinhung Global USA, Inc. will be expanding its operations to Clarksville’s industrial park.

On behalf of the Clarksville-Montgomery County Industrial Development Board (IDB) the Clarksville-Montgomery County Economic Development Council (EDC) is pleased to announce Shinhung Global USA, Inc. has chosen to expand its operations in Clarksville, Tennessee.

The South Korean logistics company purchased a pad-ready site, owned by the IDB, at Life’s Good Way and Jim Johnson Road near the LG manufacturing facility. This will become the company’s sole US location.

Shinhung Global USA Inc., a major supplier for LG Electronics USA, began construction on a 100,000 square foot warehouse distribution facility in the North Industrial Park this summer. This project brings an investment of $10 million, and 83 new jobs to the local community.

“Welcome to our latest South Korean Company, Shinhung Global USA, Inc.,” Montgomery County Mayor Jim Durrett said. “Their presence in the Montgomery County Industrial Park will be an important and added benefit in providing logistics and distribution services to LG as they continue producing the No. 1 consumer rated top-load washers in the United States. Shinhung Global USA Inc.’s presence in our community helps us grow and diversify our population, and our job opportunities. We wish them great success at their new 42-acre site.”

“Shinhung Global USA, Inc. is another example of our recruitment success breeding more success,” Clarksville Mayor Joe Pitts said. “ Shinhung Global USA, Inc., which is an importer of industrial supplies, is a great addition to our industrial sector that, in this case, is growing to serve the needs of LG, one of the important international companies that have decided to bring major operations to Clarksville. We welcome Shinhung Global USA, Inc. to our community.”

Shinhung Global USA, Inc. is an integrated logistics company. From their website - “We pursue the best quality, and make customer value brighter. … we support parts development, transport, supply, and inventory management, and supply a required amount in consideration of the quality, time, and place requested by a customer. Special and professional activity and risk management capability are emphasized, therefore, we provide ‘total logistics service’ that fits customers, and helps to improve customers’ competitiveness.”

“The EDC is excited for the growth of Shinhung Global USA, Inc. in Clarksville-Montgomery County – as a major supplier to international manufacturer LG, this is a strategic success for both companies and the community. Shinhung Global USA, Inc. is a prime example of the IDB’s successful targeted recruitment efforts to align with existing industries,” said EDC CEO Buck Dellinger.

As a bank established in a century without the ease and access to our services,” says William S. “Sammy” Stuard, Jr., convenience of technology, F&M Bank could easily be President/CEO. out of touch with the needs of the modern customer, but they’ve successfully made the ever-changing needs of their Even in the midst of technological advancement, however, clients their focus, integrating newly innovative platforms they still maintain their foundational focus. “We remain and technologies to grow their list of services, expand their steadfast to the traditional financial principles that are reach, and increase their size as a company. responsible for our success, providing a rewarding work environment and personal attention to each customer. Reflective of that fact, F&M Bank has grown from being We continue to enhance our market position as a premier one of the smallest banks in the state to: community bank where decisions are made locally, and • Ranking among Tennessee’s largest state chartered customers’ dollars are reinvested back into the communities banks we serve,” Stuard goes on. • Ranking #1 in FDIC Market Share Reporting in

Montgomery County - 17 years in a row F&M Bank employees are dedicated to the success of the • Voted Best Bank in the 2019 Best of Clarksville communities they serve. Bank officers and employees • Recognized by the American Bankers Association with frequently volunteer on various boards and committees, the 2020 Community Commitment Award for Service and F&M Bank has a proven record of providing financial to Military. support to a great many causes, groups, and organizations in each of its communities to provide a better financial future Spanning across ten counties to operate 18 full-service for the people who make up those communities—and that’s banking facilities and three mortgage loan offices, the bank an investment worth banking. offers a variety of consumer and commercial checking and savings products, loan services, credit cards, merchant services, and the guidance of a full-service mortgage division. Additionally, F&M Bank offers investment services through the prestigious financial institution of Raymond James Financial Services, Inc. “We realize that meeting the needs of clients means adapting to the many changes in the ways people bank, particularly in 2020. So we make it a priority to listen to our customer base as we determine the best ways to provide them with

Established in a century without the ease and convenience of technology, F&M Bank has remained focused on meeting the ever-changing needs of their clients. F&M Bank has grown from one of the smallest banks in the state of Tennessee to being listed among the state’s top independent community financial institutions based on asset size. access to our services,” says William S. “Sammy” Stuard, Jr., As a bank established in a century without the ease and convenience of technology, F&M Bank could easily be President/CEO. Headquartered in Clarksville, TN, the F&M footprint spans across ten counties with 20 full-service banking facilities out of touch with the needs of the modern customer, but and three mortgage loan offices. With newest locations opening in Nashville and Hopkinsville in 2021, F&M Bank Even in the midst of technological advancement, however, they’ve successfully made the ever-changing needs of their offers variety of consumer and commercial checking and savings products, loan services, credit cards, merchant they still maintain their foundational focus. “We remain clients their focus, integrating newly innovative platforms services, and the guidance of a full-service mortgage division. Additionally, investment services through the steadfast to the traditional financial principles that are and technologies to grow their list of services, expand their reach, and increase their size as a company. prestigious Raymond James Financial Services, Inc. are available throughout the branch network. responsible for our success, providing a rewarding work environment and personal attention to each customer. “We realize that meeting the needs of clients means adapting to the many changes in the ways people choose to bank. We continue to enhance our market position as a premier Reflective of that fact, F&M Bank has grown from being one of the smallest banks in the state to:We make it a priority to listen to our customer base as we determine the best ways to provide them with access to community bank where decisions are made locally, and our services,” says William S. “Sammy” Stuard, Jr., President/CEO. “Through technological advancements, we still customers’ dollars are reinvested back into the communities Ranking among Tennessee’s largest state chartered maintain our foundational focus. We remain steadfast to the traditional financial principles that are responsible for our we serve,” Stuard goes on. success, providing a rewarding work environment and personal attention to each customer. We continue to enhance our Ranking #1 in FDIC Market Share Reporting in market position as a premier community bank where decisions are made locally, and customers’ dollars are reinvested F&M Bank employees are dedicated to the success of the Montgomery County - 17 years in a row

Voted Best Bank in the 2019 Best of Clarksville back into the communities we serve,” Stuard goes on. communities they serve. Bank officers and employees

Recognized by the American Bankers Association with frequently volunteer on various boards and committees,

F&M Bank employees can often be seen participating in community and non-profit events throughout the region. Bank and F&M Bank has a proven record of providing financial the 2020 Community Commitment Award for Service officers and employees frequently volunteer on various boards and committees, and F&M Bank has a proven record support to a great many causes, groups, and organizations in of providing financial support to a great many causes, groups, and organizations in each market. Financial literacy each of its communities to provide a better financial future courses, along with personal and small business financial tools, are accessible to everyone online at myfmbank.com. for the people who make up those communities—and that’s Spanning across ten counties to operate 18 full-service banking facilities and three mortgage loan offices, the bank an investment worth banking. offers a variety of consumer and commercial checking and savings products, loan services, credit cards, merchant services, and the guidance of a full-service mortgage division. Additionally, F&M Bank offers investment services “We continue to enhance our market position as a premier community bank where decisions are made locally, and customers’ dollars are through the prestigious financial institution of Raymond reinvested back into the James Financial Services, Inc. communities we serve.” “We realize that meeting the needs of clients means adapting -William S. “Sammy” Stuard, Jr., President/CEO to the many changes in the ways people bank, particularly in 2020. So we make it a priority to listen to our customer base as we determine the best ways to provide them with

“We continue to enhance our market position as a premier community bank where decisions are made locally, and customers’ dollars are reinvested back into the communities we serve.” -William S. “Sammy” Stuard, Jr., President/CEO COMMUNITY MINDED BANKING COMMUNITY MINDED BANKING

People You Should Know: Shea Hopkins

Shea Hopkins recently moved from the Dallas/ Fort Worth area of Texas to her new home in Clarksville, Tennessee, where she was named Vice President of Industrial Development for the Economic Development Council and Executive Director of the Industrial Development Board.

“I was the Fort Worth Chamber’s Regional Director of Economic Development,” Hopkins said. “The cool thing about that was that I got to know the entire region, basically everything west of Dallas/Fort Worth airport. I learned a lot there, and saw a high volume of projects. When I left, there were about ninety-eight open projects.”

Hopkins says that her new job, in ways, is even more complex. “Now, I do every piece. At Fort Worth, we had a very large team, including an economic development team on the city staff. There was a lot of collaboration and a lot of teamwork. ClarksvilleMontgomery County is a very busy market right now.”

Hopkins used to be in operations, procurement and logistics. In the private sector she worked for a tech company, and an art company, before embarking on her current career.

“I was doing the back-end operations stuff, then,” Hopkins said. “I was also a volunteer with CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate). My goal was to see how I could marry the two. I wanted to use my business acumen, and at the same time be impactful. I did some research and found that economic development really felt like a role in which someone could effectively change the makeup of a community.

“If there are socioeconomic factors impacting the quality of an environment, in economic development you can tackle that. If a community really needs higher paying jobs you can focus your efforts in that direction. You can use business to create, from the bottom up, some fixes for some of those issues. Hopefully, the end goal is to create generational change that positively impacts the future of a community.”

So, how did Hopkins and the City of Clarksville find each other? Hopkins is a member of International EDC. She had just finished a round of classes and coursework, and saw a posting for the Clarksville job. “I felt like I had reached my maximum potential at my position in Texas. There were only a few select states I would have considered moving to, and obviously Tennessee was on that list.

“Upon arrival, I immediately did a deep-dive, a market study to really see where the opportunities are for this market. I was like, man they’ve done an amazing job of attracting manufacturing. This community is positioned well, it’s an ideal situation.

“Now, we can be selective. We don’t have to say yes to every company that knocks on our door. We get to look at, are we a good fit for this company? Are they a good fit for us? Our average household

income is around $57,000 which is lower than the national average of $64,000. Right away, that is an opportunity for us, that is a gap that we need to close. I look at the number of people who are commuting outside this community, for work. I think it’s close to 10,000. I know, if someone gave me the opportunity to work closer to home while making similar wages, I would take it.”

“That tells you that this community is attractive, that people are willing to sit in their car two hours a day to live in Clarksville. Quality of life, cost of living, access to great schools, these are all huge factors for families. Clarksville has moved ahead in a lot of areas. There are communities begging for manufacturing, retail and restaurants. We already have all that. And, with all that in place, now we can focus on higher-wage jobs.”

Hopkins says we are poised well for the future. “The people who came before me have done a great job of setting us up for the future. We’re great with utilities, the city and county have done a great job on resources. These are things that can make or break a community. If you don’t have capacity, in the form of adequate and affordable water and electricity, business isn’t coming.”

Hopkins points to the fact that the Industrial Development Board owns a lot of property, saying that’s also a huge win. She holds a giant map of the industrial park, with areas marked for potential future growth tagged in yellow. “We have land, and land with access to rail, which is becoming scarce,” Hopkins said. “A lot of my efforts, now, are to expand our presence. I want the rest of the country to know what I’ve found out about Clarksville, Tennessee.

“We’re reaching out internationally. I’ve been impressed with the investment this city has seen from all over the world. Tennessee has so many advantages, like no state income tax. Logistically, this location is great for distribution. We highlight the fact that our population is a decade younger than the national average, and that education in Montgomery County is doing well. Fort Campbell plays a significant role, too. We’re lucky to have them as a huge source of new employees, about four-hundred per month, and at all different skill levels. Men and women who are proven to be dedicated and hard working. These are exactly the type of workers employers are looking for.”

Hopkins feels that though we are in the tightest labor market many of us have ever seen, a national issue, we are as well positioned as anyone to be able to accommodate the workforce needs of new companies coming in.

“I see the trend of new people moving to this community continuing,” Hopkins said. “I think COVID-19 sped up some of that. People wanted to move out of the major metropolitan areas and into some of the sub markets, because it was more affordable. When jobs became more flexible, and they were no longer tied to a location, we saw them choosing to work from locations they enjoy. That growth will continue. Also, we currently retain about 40% of the soldiers retiring out of the military. I think there is room for growth in that sector as well.

“One of the contributing factors that keep that number low is that the more-tenured in the military

expect and deserve higher paying jobs. Attracting those higher paying jobs will help us keep those soldiers.” Hopkins says that we’ve had, in the last month, five different companies come to our market and do site visits.

“And, we’re still in the running for all of them,” she said. “Most communities would hope to get one or two of those a month. That speaks to this market right now, and the growth we’re seeing. We’re not just seeing million-dollar investments, we’re now seeing billion-dollar investments, which is very exciting.

“Ford landing in Memphis sort of proved that Tennessee is a good spot for those types of relocations. We’re seeing an uptick in requests for information. A lot of the businesses that supply these companies want to be as close as they can in order to cut down on distribution costs, which makes Clarksville a consideration.”

As far as keeping up with the demand for housing, etc, Hopkins says we’re in a better place now than we were just six months ago. She also praises local leadership.

“I’m impressed with local leadership,” Hopkins said. “They’ve participated in site visits. I’m impressed with the collaboration I see from local leaders, and state leaders. That support has been really helpful. It makes a big difference. Companies are looking for a political climate that is businessfriendly, and collaborative. They can tell right away, that’s what they are going to get, here.

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Montgomery County Ranks 9th In Tennessee For Tourism Spending In 2020

Though tourism spending decreased 32% in Tennessee and 42% in the nation in 2020, local tourism managed to generate $252.14 million in domestic and international travel spending for the year, only a 28% decline from the previous year.

During the recent Governor’s Conference on Tourism, Department of Tourist Development Commissioner Mark Ezell announced that Tennessee’s leisure and hospitality industry was on a record track the first two months of 2020. COVID-19 was the largest crisis to hit the leisure and hospitality industry in history.

In fact, Ezell stated, “Tennessee proved our resiliency by outperforming the nation. During April, May and June [2021] our tax revenue is outperforming pre-COVID numbers. And from April 2020 through January 2021, Tennessee is one of only seven states with a positive percentage change in consumer spending.”

Between 2015 and 2019, annual visitor spending in Montgomery County had steadily increased by 25.4%, from $281 million to $352.5 million.

During 2020, Visit Clarksville hosted sports competitions in soccer, track & field, baseball and softball that generated $9.3 million in visitor spending. Outdoor events kicked off again in May. In July, Visit Clarksville hosted its first indoor sports competition with the AAU Boys National Basketball Championship.

“Fortunately we weren’t completely shut down,” Visit Clarksville Executive Director, Theresa Harrington said. “Competitive sports, especially outdoor events, did still happen. We are blessed to have facilities that can accommodate those, and we worked with event organizers to make sure protocols were in place that kept everyone safe and still provided an excellent guest experience. In most cases, we are seeing fewer teams and attendance, but the good news is that people are traveling again, and that boosts the economy, and benefits everyone.”

Buck Dellinger, Director of Clarksville’s Economic Development Council is pleased with our area’s performance through the pandemic so far, and optimistic as we move forward.

“We’ve got a few hotels opening, our hotel portfolio is good, and we are adding to it with new projects coming to the exit 4 area,” Dellinger said. “Our tourism department keeps doing a great job with getting sporting events, AAU events, softball tournaments, etc. We’ve got the Tennessee Middle School Cross Country Championships, High School Track Championships, and the High School All-Star Football Game coming up in a couple of weeks. They are doing a great job.”

Dellinger says that from a projection standpoint, the F & M Arena is going to change things tremendously.

“It opens in late winter/spring 2022/23, and in its first year we’re expecting fifty ticketed events, and ten to twenty trade conferences, like boat shows, etc,” Dellinger said. “The really interesting thing is the two sheets of ice. We’ll have one in the bowl of the stadium, and one sheet off in its own little area. The projections on those two sheets of ice show they are expected to draw 600,000 people to our community each year. The ice will be open from 6 a.m. – 11 p.m. 362 days a year. That’s going to create tremendous traffic in our downtown area.

“These projections are from the people who manage the Bridgestone Arena and the Ford Center. This is what they have seen with the growth in hockey’s popularity, and expect, based on the lack of competition from other sheets of ice in the area. This is going to be a big attraction. We expect a ton of activity at the arena.”

Dellinger says all this comes in addition to the great base of events that we continue to draw to the community.

“Now, add hockey events throughout the season,” Dellinger said. “Also, we can host basketball events that are similar to the upcoming football all-star event in December. Events like these will bring the very best players from across the state to play in games that highlight their talents and skills, right here in Clarksville.”

He says other big draws for visitors to the community include Fort Campbell, and all the outdoor activities that are available at Dunbar Cave. “Austin Peay is a big draw as well,” Dellinger continues. “When we advertise in Indianapolis, Cincinnati, and Bowling Green, our folks at Visit Clarksville know what people are coming from those areas to see.

Dellinger says that though we have capacity, we often sell out when we host major youth tournaments.

“We would really like to reach into ‘daytime, during the week tourism’ as well,” Dellinger said. “The Riverview Hotel is about to launch a major upgrade, and as the F & M Center becomes fully activated, I project that we’re going to need more hotel rooms in and around downtown.

“Those numbers I just gave are just for the first year. There will be much more to come in future years. We’ll have the APSU Men’s and Women’s Basketball, but, we’re also going to become a venue for those acts that draw 5,000 – 6,500 ticketed customers.

8 Essential Financial Figures to Know

Rose Melton Manager, Retail Market, Altra Federal Credit Union When it comes to overall financial health, there are several steps one can take to create a realistic and actionable plan to help sustain or improve their financial circumstances. The first step typically involves knowing where you stand on the financial front now, followed closely by defining your specific financial goals. But either step is a challenge if you aren’t sure what you can or should measure when evaluating your financial standing.

It’s essential to know the following eight financial numbers to provide the groundwork for understanding—and possibly improving—your financial wellness.

1. Credit Score

Your credit score is a three-digit number calculated by a credit scoring company and based on your unique financial details. A credit score doesn’t take into account your salary or income. Instead, it uses data reported from creditors to determine your score, including your total amount of debt owed, the type of debts you carry, your payment history of past and current debt accounts, and any negative financial items such as tax liens, foreclosures, or bankruptcies. Credit scores typically range from 300 to 850, and the higher a person’s score, the better.

2. Monthly Expenses

Add up your fixed expenses—think rent or mortgage, debt payments, and utilities. Then, estimate variable expenses such as entertainment, dining out, groceries, travel, and shopping. You might even use a budget tracker or app to get an idea of these costs each month, then add them to your fixed expenses.

3. Monthly Income

Individuals with a fixed salary or hourly wage may find calculating total monthly income a breeze. However, those who work on commission or other variable compensation, including freelancers and contractor workers, may find this more challenging. A general rule of thumb is to look back at the last 12 months and add up total income. It’s important to add all sources of income, above and beyond traditional salary and wages. If you have a spouse or partner, you can do the same for their income and add it to the mix.

4. Cash Flow

To figure out your cash flow, take your monthly income and subtract out total monthly expenses. This resulting number represents either a positive or negative cash flow each month. A positive cash flow is the result of having more income than expenses, leaving a surplus to save or spend at the end of each month. A negative cash flow is from having more expenses than money coming in, meaning one may need to use savings or debt to cover the difference. as putting it towards your financial goals. If cash flow is negative, consider what you can do to turn it positive. That may mean earning a higher income or decreasing or eliminating spending in specific categories to help reduce monthly expenses.

5. Debt Balance

To help keep your debt under control, it’s important to take the time to add up debts owed, including mortgage loans, student debt, credit card balances, personal loans, and car loans. In addition to knowing the total balance owed, it can be beneficial to know the interest rate and monthly payment due for each debt to help you prioritize repayment of debts or identify strategies for consolidation or refinancing if needed.

6. Net Worth

A positive net worth indicates you have more than you owe others; a negative net worth may highlight the need to focus on reducing debts or increasing assets in your financial life. To figure out your net worth, add up the value of your assets—like your savings or retirement accounts, investments, property, and vehicles—then subtract your liabilities, such as mortgage balance, student loans, and other debts owed. The bottom-line number is your net worth and can be a gauge of your financial standing.

7. Savings Rate

Generally, a savings rate is the percentage amount you can set aside each month into savings. To determine your savings rate, divide your amount of savings by your total monthly income. For some, saving 1% of income is a realistic financial goal; others may aim for 10% to 15%. Calculating your savings rate tells you where you stand currently. It may also prompt you to think about ways you can save more by restructuring your cash flow.

8. Retirement Contributions

Above and beyond knowing what you have saved toward retirement, it can be helpful to understand what your retirement contributions are or could be. If you have a retirement plan through work, you might ask about matching contributions and what that percentage is. If you don’t have a retirement plan through work, consider your ability to save toward retirement in other vehicles. Knowing how much you can save toward this goal goes back to your cash flow each month, and ultimately, doing so can help add to your net worth over time.

Taking the time to calculate these figures provides an opportunity to understand your financial life at a deeper level. You can then use that understanding to help define and ultimately work toward your financial goals.