Unintended consequences: Could UC see employee turnover with ACA?

20 Pages·2013·9.8 MB·English

U P P E R C U M B E R L A N D WEB • Bobby Q’s changing spaces NOVEMBER
• TTU renames nursing building for Bell
2013
exclusives • Crossville dealership building new digs
• UC favorites named to ‘Best’ list Issue #103
ucbjournal.com
A voice for
businesses in the
Upper Cumberland
ExECuTIvE PROFILE
Barry O’Connor 8
MEDICAL UC posed to welcome seventh winery
PROFILE
Dr. Sangeetha LIZ ENGEL CLARK | UCBJ Editor
Pabolu 10
BRUSH CREEK – Since their first vines were planted in 2006,
Scott and Rebecca Paschall have made grape-growing their
SEC Enterprises newfound labor of love. Which is hard work. But a means to keep
going the family farm.
merges with That job is about to get a lot more labor intensive, it seems.
Instead of selling off their product commercially to wineries
across the midstate, the Smith County couple is looking to start
Tullahoma beverage Dalton Paschall making and selling their own product onsite.
holds a “winning” Hickory Hill Vineyards and Farms, which has harvested
distributor cluster of grapes grapes for a number of years in the Brush Creek community,
grown at Hickory south of Carthage – grapes that have been sold to wineries like
Hill Vineyards and Bean’s Creek in Manchester, Arrington Vineyards south of
LIZ ENGEL CLARK | UCBJ Editor Farms in Smith Nashville and DelMonaco Winery in Baxter – is planning to
County. become a Tennessee bonded winery.
PUTNAM COUNTY – Citing increased
SEE wINERy | 3
instances of consolidation, two Tennessee
beverage distributors have joined forces
Unintended consequences: Could UC
to create one of the largest distribution
companies in the state.
SEC Enterprises Inc., a locally owned and
see employee turnover with ACA?
operated beverage distribution company
serving the Upper Cumberland for 25
years, has merged with Tullahoma-based
Mid-South Distributing Inc. The new
LIZ ENGEL CLARK | UCBJ Editor talking locally to different groups about the “biggest social experiment of our
company will operate under the Mid-South
the ACA – from bar associations, to HR lifetime,” she said, but also the largest data
Distributing name.
UPPER CUMBERLAND – A source managers and retirement community
Combined, the merger while create a
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single company with almost 100 employees,
deeper pond for business
approximately 1,700 retail accounts across
to pool risks. A jobs killer.
SEE sEC | 3 Or the breath of fresh air
for companies anxious
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the Affordable Care
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Act (ACA) have been
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embattled, aired out
and rehashed, moreso R
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rollout of the health
insurance exchanges.
But could it also
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turnover in the Upper
Cumberland? An increase
in divorces? Those are
just a pair of scenarios
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that some say may play
out locally as those
exchanges see a slow start
up in the region.
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Tonya Hinch, owner
of insurance firm Don
Hinch & Associates in
Crossville, has been
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speaking circuit lately,
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They treated
me like I was
number one.
ary Morgan of Livingston had delayed getting treat-
M
ment for peripheral artery disease in her legs until the
pain became so bad that she had to quit working. She
turned to Cookeville Regional, where Dr. Brian Gerndt discov-
ered a blockage in her neck as well as several in her legs.
“Sooner or later, I would have been facing having probably one
of my legs, if not both of them, taken off, because I wasn’t get-
ting any blood circulation at all through there,” said Morgan.
Since Dr. Gerndt performed procedures to remove the neck
blockage and replace the arteries in her legs, Morgan’s pain is
gone, she’s walking again, and she even stopped smoking.
“There’s nothing that can hold me down now!” said Morgan. “I
just thank the Lord for Cookeville Regional and for the doctors
who did this for me.”
It’s these kinds of results that have helped Cookeville Regional
achieve the Healthgrades® rank of #1 in Tennessee for Vascular
Surgery for 2012. While we feel very honored to receive this
level of recognition, it’s the changed lives of patients like Mary
Morgan that make it all worthwhile.
CRMC– Putting First Things First
Mary Morgan
Livingston, TN
931-528-2541 • crmchealth.org
#1 in TN for Vascular Surgery (Healthgrades® 2012)
ucbjournal.com NEws // OPINION // fEatUrE // PrOfIlE // COlUMN // ClaSSIfIED 2013 NOVEMBER 3
frOM sEC |1 community and serving our customers five years, Phillips said, before both finally Shelbyville and Hickman Distributing in
with the same attention to detail as we decided to move forward. Pulaski. A merger in 2003 with Columbia
31 counties with annual sales revenue in always have,” Ottis Phillips, owner of SEC “Our industry has experienced a Mid-State Distributing brought Coors
excess of $40 million. SEC has distribution Enterprises, said. tremendous amount of consolidation. As brand products to the company.
rights for 17 counties, while Mid-South, Phillips, a Cookeville native, has been in a result, the number of independent Gerwe will assume the role of CEO
which has served the Tullahoma and the beer distribution industry since 1980 beer wholesalers has declined by over 30 and Phillips will remain in Cookeville
Columbia areas since 1979, covers 14. and returned to his hometown in 1990 to percent in the past 20 years,” Phillips told and serve as president. The Cookeville
“We are excited to expand the size of assume the role as general manager of SEC, the UCBJ. “By consolidating SEC and warehouse will remain but the corporate
our company while still being a part of our which was established in 1988 with the Mid-South Distributing we will be able to office will be located in Tullahoma, Phillips
purchase of Whitson Distributing. Over realize some economies of scale along with said.
the years, Burks Distributing and Whitaker doubling our distribution area covering 31 For MillerCoors, the newly shaped Mid-
UPPER CUMBERLAND Distributing were added to the SEC fold. counties in Tennessee. This arrangement South Distributing will become its largest
He said he’s known Mid-South president makes us a stronger competitor and will geographic and fourth largest volume
Rick Gerwe since 1990, and since their allow us to continue to invest and grow our distributor in Tennessee.
respective operations are similar in size, brands in Tennessee.” Among the other breweries represented
geography and product mix, they’ve also “This merger creates so many benefits Nashville’s Blackstone, Modelo, Boston
JAY ALBRECHT shared their best practices and performance for our employees and our suppliers,” Beer, Heineken, Mikes Hard Lemonade,
Publisher numbers on an ongoing basis. The merger Gerwe said in a statement. Mid-South Lagunitas, Gallo, Brown Forman, Sierra
has been a topic of discussion for at least previously acquired Stevens Distributing in Nevada, Diageo, Shiner and Pabst.
EdiToRiAL
LiZ ENGEL CLARK
Editor
RiCHARd LAWSoN frOM wINERy |1 it was overturned. We almost got hung
with a cross in 2010. We had about 10,000
AdvERTiSiNG “I really think, wine,
This summer, commissioners in Smith pounds (of grapes) that DelMonaco ended
CASSEY SpAKES
County unanimously rezoned 23 acres of up buying at the last minute. even though a lot of
CoLToN MULLiGAN
the Paschall’s farm off Highway 53 as an “After that, the state came up with an
folks are against it, it
dESiGN/LAYoUT agritourism overlay district to allow them to idea called custom crush, which allows
JARRod CoNNER make their vino onsite. Pending federal and a grower to have their wine made at a can really change a
pUBLiSHEd BY pTT vENTURES, LLC state approval, Hickory Hill could become the bonded winery, brought back to their community, and in a
Upper Cumberland’s seventh winery, joining farm and sold,” she continued. “Originally
LARRY MCdoNALd good way, and bring in
the likes of Chestnut Hill, DelMonaco, we were going to do that and grow and
Chairman
Highland Manor, Holly Ridge, Red Barn and then sell wine on the side, but when we new jobs.”
MiKE MCCLoUd
Principal Advisor Stonehaus. started looking around, it was so cost
Rebecca Paschall said they hope to receive prohibitive that we decided to become a
all the necessary approvals by this time next bonded winery.”
year. The goal is to be fully operational – and The operation will be on the smaller
selling wine – by Memorial Day 2015. scale – at least in comparison with the community, and in a good way, and bring in
“We’re in the process of buying equipment. likes of Arrington and DelMonaco. They’d new jobs,” she said.
Hopefully, it will go smoothly,” Rebecca said. like to run the operation as a “boutique” And, should all go well, there are bigger
winery, she said, only open Friday-Sunday plans in store.
Tennessee fresh and during the week by appointment only. “The main thing now is getting all the
The Paschall farm spans 100 acres. Back There will be a tasting room and tours and kinks worked out,” Rebecca Paschall said.
in the early 2000s, it was slated to become the ability to host small events. “We’ve got a plan of possibly getting a little bit
an 80-home residential development, but the Bottom line: it will be their way to keep larger down the road. I hope to have at least a
Paschalls, hoping to save the land, approached farming the land that once belonged to Scott’s couple part-time employees and host events,
Scott’s parents and aunt and were successful grandfather. This year, they had their biggest but you never know until you get into it.
[email protected]
in buying it back to keep it a family operation. crop ever – about 25,000 pounds of grapes, “People, they’re out searching for things
The Upper Cumberland Business Journal is This was also around the time when the she said, were sold to Arrington Vineyards. to do – it used to be movies or shopping, but
published monthly by PTT Ventures, LLC.
It is produced by MMA Creative at state was encouraging the planting of grapes “This is something that rural communities now people want to get out, go zipline, or
705 N. Dixie Ave., Cookeville, TN 38501. over tobacco. The Paschalls planted their really need to look into,” Rebecca Paschall hike, or go taste wine, do all these creative
PHONE: [phone]. FAX: [phone].
E-MAIL: [email protected]. Every attempt is made vineyard in 2006, five acres total of grapes. said. “You’re keeping the rural landscape, and things, and they’re willing to spend the
to present factual information; neither the Cumberland
Business Journal, nor PTT Ventures can be held Their first harvest followed in 2009. that was our main thing. We wanted to keep money to do it. We’ve got to take advantage in
responsible for opinions expressed or erroneous “When we planted, a Tennessee winery had the farm. The thought of it being developed these rural communities.
information provided by contributing writers. Upper
Cumberland Business Journal© by PTT Ventures, LLC. to buy 75 percent of its fruit from Tennessee was just heartbreaking. “I look forward to joining the wine industry
All rights reserved unless granted by written permission. growers. That’s how the state law was “I really think, wine, even though a lot here,” she added. “I think this is an area that
Call for subscription rates.
written,” Rebecca Paschall said. “But (in 2009) of folks are against it, it can really change a can really grow.”
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4 NOVEMBER 2013 NEwS // OPINION // fEatUrE // PrOfIlE // COlUMN // ClaSSIfIED ucbjournal.com
Health care marketplace a marred experience
I logged in on a Wednesday, just your rooftops – but it went viral all the same. list wanted to lay claim to the report, and
typical, run-of-the-mill cool-weathered fall Supposedly, we’re, like, the poorest city in none was exactly thrilled with their ranking.
CLARK
day, a hair before the lunchtime strike. I LIZ America. Most countered in various outlets that their
entered my full legal name, email address UCBJ EDITOR Well, to be technical, we’re the sixth low cost of living makes much smaller salaries
(several times, actually), I picked a password poorest, according to Credit.com. Whatever stretch farther. All pointed to what census
and struggled to come up with easy-to- VIEWPOINT that is. data doesn’t say – the real meat-and-bones of a
remember responses to the impossible- The report pooled census data for the community – it’s educational, recreational and
to-answer security questions. My identity drift. Cookeville micropolitan area, namely lifestyle opportunities. And we all know we
was verified (thank heavens for that). More I’m not known as a particularly patient Putnam, Overton and Jackson counties, have those here in the greater UC. So I don’t
personal information was entered. And just person (I mean, have you read my and found that the average income for those feel the need to air out the issue any more than
like that, I was in. Welcome to the lauded land Viewpoints?), so I started to get frustrated. 106,498 residents was a measly $31,813 per that.
of the health insurance marketplace. So this I’m also a fan of avoiding most
was the fabled exchange. things political, so I was hoping the
It was a decently attractive site. But for some “glitches” were just media hype, but
odd reason, I was expecting faux grocery my experience was real. I only gave
store-like aisles, lined with binder-sized boxes, my health care exchange experience
kind of like what you’d see in a Progressive 30 minutes tops, because I had more
car insurance ad. I was also looking for that important things to do. I was on
all too common error message I had heard deadline, for goodness sake. Oh, the
so much about – one that has everyone up things us reporters will do for a story.
in arms just weeks after the launch of the By the way, I’d love to hear from
exchanges, a centerpiece of the so-called UCBJ readers who have logged into
Obamacare – that’s prevented so many from the exchange – whether because of an
signing up for the coverage they want and insatiable need to see it for themselves,
need. like me, or to actually purchase insurance. My year. In the poorest city, Lumberton, N.C., Of course, all that was just icing on the cake
Simply curious, I logged in a few days contact info is below. located south of Raleigh, average income when it came to another top 10 list: the news
after President Barack Obama’s mid-October was $28,293. Meanwhile, the median U.S. that Tennessee was the most dangerous state
speech about the disappointments in the Now for part II of this month’s column. household income topped out at just more in the country.
website, and the promises put forth to fix it. I I’m sure you’ve all heard the reports. It was than $51,000. Since I’m writing this after At least we’ve got that going for us.
guess they were still working on it; I didn’t get quite the shift from the efforts traditionally the shutdown, I had the ability to verify the
my error message, but I did get stuck. Then I put forth to market Cookeville and the Upper statistics used, but, of course, that’s not the Liz Engel Clark is the editor of the Upper Cumberland
had to log back in. And got stuck again. Then Cumberland as an attractive place to be, so true problem. Business Journal. She can be reached at liz@
logged back in. Then got stuck. You get the understandably, this was not shouted from the Obviously, not one of the 10 cities on the ucbjournal.com.
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ucbjournal.com NEws // OPINION // fEatUrE // PrOfIlE // COlUMN // ClaSSIfIED 2013 NOVEMBER 5
frOM hEALth |1
River Park Hospital trained certified application counselors
gathering effort the government has (CAC’s), from left, Vonda Myers, Andrea Porter and Jenny Mil-
undertaken since the start of the ligan help Trent Curtis navigate the www.healthcare.gov site
federal income tax. comparing insurance plan options.
But misinformation abounds.
“It’s huge,” Hinch said.
“There’s some really interesting
ramifications of the law.
“A lot of larger employers are
thinking, ‘phew, the employer
mandate got delayed, so I don’t
have to worry about it.’ I think they
do have to worry,” she added.
Perhaps one of the biggest is the
potential for some high employee
turnover. Here’s the scenario:
Employer offers health insurance
to its worker, but said worker also
holds side jobs as an additional
means of income, like construction
or farming, if they’re only putting
in their hours with said employer
for the benefit of insurance, it’s
possible they could be dropping off
the roles come Jan. 1.
“I think that’s a big issue for this
area because so many people are in
their 50’s and early 60’s, just trying
to hang on until Medicare,” Hinch
said. “Offering benefits has been one of the Solloway, owns Small Biz Staffing in staffing industry as a whole will see an see a shift in our employment base, because
number one drivers in getting employees Crossville, a recruiter for professionals, increase in the number of temps hired – she the people who historically, over the last
in this area, because Tennessee’s not a clerical, industrial, technical and skilled predicts our region will see more of the 15-20 years, have been working for benefits
guaranteed issue state, now that’s off the table. labor positions, has attended one of Hinch’s aforementioned employment change. and health insurance, no longer need that
It forces you to rethink the entire employee recent presentations. She agrees with her “If benefits were the reason you thought (because of the exchanges).”
benefits side of your business model.” predictions. you were keeping your workforce, that’s going
Vicki Baucum, who, along with Norma While the national headlines say the to change,” Baucum said. “We’re going to
SEE hEALth | 12
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6 NOVEMBER 2013 NEwS // OPINION // fEatUrE // PrOfIlE // cOluMN // ClaSSIfIED ucbjournal.com
It’s always something: IRS grants ACA delay but
there’s still plenty to keep employers on their toes
IRS grants employers a reprieve Even though there is no fine or penalty in the previous tax year must again comply
for failing to provide the notice, according with the ACA’s requirement to report
with one-year delay of Affordable
JEFF JONES to guidance the DOL posted to its website the aggregate cost of health coverage on
Care Act’s employer mandate, but
on Sept. 11, employers who have not already employees’ W-2 forms. Employers filing
SPECIAL TO THE UCBJ
other rules and rulings will keep done so should provide the notice as failing fewer than 250 W-2s continue to be exempt
employers busy in 2014 LEGAL to do so could run afoul of disclosure from the requirement. In other words,
requirements regulated by ERISA. small employers will not need to report
On July 9, the Internal Revenue Service Following is a brief look at these recent Going forward, the notice must be health insurance coverage on 2013 W-2
(IRS) officially granted employers covered developments. provided to new employees upon hire. forms, issued in January 2014.
by the Patient Protection and Affordable In May, the DOL issued technical release Tax treatment of same-sex spouses
Care Act (“ACA”) a welcome, one-year ACA CheCklIsT for 2014 2013-02 to provide temporary guidance In light of the Supreme
reprieve from the ACA’s employer mandate. Notice of coverage options regarding the notice requirement until final Court’s “Windsor” decision, the IRS
The reprieve provided that enforcement of As of Oct. 1, all employers covered by regulations are issued. The DOL has also issued a revenue ruling on Aug. 29 broadly
the mandate will not take place until 2015. the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) were promulgated model notices. interpreting the marriage provisions of
The IRS’s action also included relief from required to distribute a Notice of Coverage summary of benefits and coverage the tax code in a gender-neutral way. This
two key reporting requirements associated Options to employees, informing employees As in 2013, a Summary of Benefits and means that for all federal tax purposes,
with the employer mandate. Other portions of coverage options available through the Coverage (SBC) must be distributed during the terms “spouse,” “husband and
of the law, including the individual health insurance exchange (now called open enrollment for the 2014 coverage wife,” “husband,” and “wife” include an
mandate, are unaffected by this delay in the “marketplace”), as compared with period. The SBC must indicate whether individual married to a person of the same
enforcement. coverage options available through the the employer’s plan provides minimum sex if the individuals are lawfully married
There are still plenty of other employer. The notice requirement applies essential coverage as defined by the ACA under state law. Additionally, for federal
requirements in the ACA to keep employers to all employers subject to the FLSA, and whether the plan or coverage meets tax purposes, the term “marriage” includes
on their toes next year, however. And regardless of whether or not the employer the minimum value requirements. The a marriage between individuals of the
in other news, the IRS recently issued a offers health insurance and regardless SBC template has been revised somewhat same sex. The ruling is to be prospectively
revenue ruling stating that, in light of the of whether the employer is subject to the for 2014; the template is available on the applied beginning Sept. 16.
U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling in “United employer mandate. Although it got off to Employee Benefits Security Administration The general rule recognizes a same-
States v. Windsor,” same-sex couples a bumpy start, Tennessee’s federally-run (EBSA) website. sex marriage if the marriage was validly
who are legally married will be treated as online marketplace did open on Oct. 1 as W-2 reporting entered into in a state whose laws authorize
spouses for federal income tax purposes. scheduled. Employers that issued 250 or more W-2s
SEE IRs | 16
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8 NOVEMBER 2013 NEwS // OPINION // fEatUrE // PROfIlE // COlUMN // ClaSSIfIED ucbjournal.com
Bridging culinary oceans with a career’s passion
Bull & Thistle Chef Barry O’Connor
steffan Gilbert | Special to the UCBJ a portion of the Gainesboro town O’Connor.
EXECUTIVE square, which although a designated O’Connor’s commitment to his trade has not come
What is it that drives someone to historic site, was suffering from without some cost, however. He has found himself in long
excel in a chosen field? Training, PROFILE both the economic downturn of separations from his wife of over 20 years, Ann, herself
certainly, along with ambition and 2008-09 and the continued loss a master pastry chef in demand throughout Europe, and
determination are necessary values UPPER CUMBERLAND BUSINESS JOURNAL of manufacturing and production their daughter. Regular visits to Ireland and occasional
to a successful career. For some, UPPER CUMBERLAND BUSINESS JOURNAL facilities. While O’Connor developed visits by his family dull the pain of being apart, and his
PROFILE
what drives them is a hunger for a menu that drew from the strengths tasks in the pub keep him so occupied that he has had little
perfection. of the local farming economy, time for some of his favorite pastimes, such as sailing and
EXECUTIVE
Referring to a map or Internet browser, the distance focusing on the concept of “field to fork,” Silvestri rugby. With his work visa extended until 2014, O’Connor
between Middle Tennessee and the west coast of Ireland and Mandli invested heavily to repair and reinforce a anticipates that between his responsibilities coordinating
is almost 3,800 miles as the crow flies. Yet, in many building that had seen better days, while at the same time a busy restaurant, training and teaching associates and
ways the distance is minimal. The original settlers to meeting the requirements of the design guidelines for the would-be amateur chefs, his workload will be such that
the Cumberland Plateau, men and women alike, largely Gainesboro historic district and retaining authenticity of thoughts of Cork will be minimized to the reminders
consisted of immigrants from Ireland and Scotland. A trek the structures. Finally, in March, the Bull & Thistle Pub restaurant patrons post on the Bull &
along the Avery Trace, which runs nearly the length of the was opened, drawing accolades from the start from Thistle Facebook page, and his Skype
state, bears mute witness to the fortitude, strength and critics and customers alike for both the charms calls to his family. As to his laurels, as
bravery of those early colonists. of the décor and the menu. he adds to his already impressive list of
So it is that Jackson County sees a new settler, not O’Connor has continued his practice of accomplishments, he will be on his feet
marking his trail on tree trunks, but on a restaurant menu. sharing his expertise by teaching seminars in way too often to even consider resting on
Chef Barry O’Connor was already well known and haute cuisine and by hiring as associate chefs them.
highly regarded by his peers and customers in cities like individuals from the Jackson County area who
London and Cork, two centers of European cuisine that bring their passion and talent to the kitchen. The Barry O’Connor is chef at The Bull and Thistle Pub,
produce critics and palettes alike that are hard to satisfy. Bull & Thistle Pub also provides employment 102 S. Main St., Gainesboro. Call the pub at (931)
Good chefs, though, as O’Connor will tell you, are not opportunities to many other local residents, 268-7170 for information on O’Connor’s cooking
made, they’re born. some with disabilities, who work in the kitchen seminars. For more information, visit https://
In O’Connor’s case, this lineage includes his mother, a and throughout the restaurant in many different www.facebook.com/BullandThistlePub or www.
sous chef in Cork, his grandfather and two of his uncles. capacities. In addition, he and the owners are hoping bullandthistle.com.
A lifelong exposure to excellence in fresh cuisine, and the to reach out to the local school system to give high
temptation of creating memorable feasts and one of a kind school students opportunities in the restaurant trade.
dining experiences, moved O’Connor at the age of 14 into a A strapping man with the rust colored hair found
career that he has pursued for more than 30 years. in many of his countrymen and a hearty brogue,
This quest – a search for excellence in flavors, O’Connor knows what he wants from
ingredients and preparation methods; a hunger if you his associates and trainees. As ready to
will – drove the young O’Connor from training at the share a healthy laugh as he is to correct
prestigious Rockwell Hotel and Catering College to mistakes in his kitchen, he has found
apprenticeships under other chefs, to positions across the that Tennessee residents, and Jackson
European continent and England, either running a kitchen County inhabitants in particular, have
for someone else or for himself. welcomed him with open arms. “Chef
Yet it was more than his own satisfaction that moved and Barry,” as most regulars
inspired O’Connor. He wanted to share what he’d learned, at the pub call him,
so he began teaching classes in culinary arts. He was found his initial series
moved to help others less fortunate, so he created further of cooking classes so
opportunities in gastronomic education for individuals popular that when a sign
with autism thriving on helping those with aptitude and up list for an advanced
motivation to establish their own careers. class was passed around
Still, O’Connor sought new horizons. So when a pair of at the final introductory
entrepreneurs and successful business owners, Dr. Loui session in July, it was
Silvestri and Diana Mandli, began their search for a chef filled to capacity by
with whom to team up for a new enterprise, chef was the time the list made
intrigued. Their goal was to operate an authentic Celtic its way around. So
restaurant and pub in Gainesboro. The investors and the well regarded were
master chef found their goals were in line with one another the classes that the
and a partnership was born. local school system
Chef Barry o’Connor.
Bringing his heritage and his palette to the table, paid for their staff to
Photo Tom Glynn/Dodson Branch Graphics
O’Connor worked with Silvestri and Mandli in developing enhance their skills with
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ucbjournal.com NEws // OPINION // fEatUrE // PrOfIlE // COlUMN // ClaSSIfIED 2013 NOVEMBER 9
Compressed natural gas manufacturer moves into McMinnville
demand for compressed natural gas fueling
vehicles – it’s $1 a gallon versus $3.50. That’s
our whole business.”
Simpkins Energy customers, among
others, include utility companies, and the
company a recently secured job for Waste
Management vehicles.
While the company calls its Nashville
headquarters home, Simpkins said at some
point, he’d like to move the whole business
to McMinnville.
“I don’t really know that exact timeline.
We’re just taking one big step at a time,”
Simpkins said. “The worst thing you want to
do is go too quick on something, you make
a lot of mistakes. And I have a backlog of
orders.
“I’m 8-9 weeks backlogged with orders.
So I have to be very careful in moving
operations and different things, because I
can’t afford to stretch those deliveries out
any later.”
But he did credit the McMinnville-
Warren County Industrial Development
LIZ ENGEL CLARK | UCBJ Editor site so far. The company has also brought Simpkins Energy’s natural gas Board and its director of economic
Rock Island’s Boles Tools into its fold for its compressors are designed for small-to- development, George Burke, for their efforts
MCMINNVILLE – A Nashville-based machining operation. medium-sized fleets, and the models are the in recruitment.
company that manufactures natural Kent Simpkins, president of Simpkins first of their size to be manufactured and “He’s worked very hard, and so have the
gas compressors for fueling vehicles has Energy, said Boles played a big factor in assembled in the United States. Compressed members of the industrial board, basically
expanded its operation to Warren County. the move, calling the deal between the two natural gas (CNG), an alternative to gasoline soliciting me to come there, and the
Simpkins Energy Corp. purchased a a consolidated merger. So far, Simpkins and diesel, is said to be safer, less expensive willingness and openness to work together
15,000-square-foot building on Belmont Energy’s machining operation is 100 percent and environmentally cleaner. and the friendly environment that they
Drive in McMinnville and is in the process up and running. Overall, he said they are “The business is experiencing a present,” he said.
of hiring around 30 employees; 15 are on about 80 percent established. tremendous growth,” Simpkins said. “The “The business is just doing tremendous.”
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10 NOVEMBER 2013 NEwS // OPINION // fEatUrE // PROfIlE // COlUMN // ClaSSIfIED ucbjournal.com
Cookeville welcomes first FT rheumatologist
Dr. Sangeetha Pabolu
LIZ ENGEL CLARK | UCBJ Staff A majority of patients, at least and very pleasant to work with, and that was definitely one of
MEDICAL nationally, suffer from osteoarthritis, my priorities in where I wanted to work.”
COOKEVILLE – For patients the most common rheumatoid
suffering with the aches and pains of PROFILE disease and one that will continue its Dr. Sangeetha Pabolu is a physician with Cookeville Regional Medical
arthritis, there’s a new specialist in upward growth curve with the aging Group and is currently seeing patients in the Professional Office Building,
town to tend to their needs. UPPER CUMBERLAND BUSINESS JOURNAL population; rheumatoid arthritis, a 145 W. Fourth St., Suite 201. She is board certified in internal medicine.
Dr. Sangeetha Pabolu, a UPPER CUMBERLAND BUSINESS JOURNAL chronic inflammatory disorder, also For more information, call [phone].
PROFILE
rheumatologist, has joined the very common; as well as conditions
ever-growing ranks of Cookeville MEDICAL such as lupus, scleroderma, sjogren’s
physicians. syndrome, inflammatory myositis, spondyloarthropathies,
Pabolu, a native of India, comes from a family full of vasculitis and others.
doctors – among those, her father, an ob/gyn; her brother, an While many rheumatoid disorders are recognized
eye doctor; and host of cousins who also practice in various and diagnosed earlier than in the past, the cause
other specialties. of several is still unknown. A disorder like
Ironically, she is the first rheumatologist in that bunch – gout, though, can be liked to alcohol and high
and she’s also the first full-time practicing rheumatologist in cholesterol, while smoking is “definitely” a risk
the Cookeville area. She joined Cookeville Regional Medical factor for rheumatoid arthritis, Pabolu said.
Group, a group of multi-specialty physicians employed by “If there’s one message I can give to the
Cookeville Regional Medical Center, in September. general community, it’s not to smoke,” she
A majority of her patients suffer from muscle and joint pain. said. “That’s one thing that’s definitely
A rheumatologist helps diagnose, treat and manage patients known as a risk factor for rheumatoid
with arthritis and other diseases. arthritis and rheumatic disorders.”
“I believe a rheumatologist is needed in every community,” Now that her practice is in its
she said. “(Here) a lot of patients have been going to Nashville building phase, Pabolu is looking to
or Knoxville, making a long drive to see a rheumatologist. further develop her outside interests,
Others had been holding off seeing one because of the which, admittedly, have taken a back
distance. seat to medical school and training.
“If you look at a common internal medicine or primary As a child, she enjoyed Bharata
care practice, 50-60 percent of people have that complaints Natyam, or traditional Indian
of muscle and joint pain. People can now come here with no dancing. She also likes to sing and
commute.” paint and wants to learn how to swim.
For all her expertise, Pabolu almost didn’t find her way into Her family includes her husband,
her specialty, since it was actually dermatology that peaked Chiranjeevi Gadiparthi, who
her initial interest. After she graduated in 2003 with her is also a physician – a
bachelor’s of medicine and bachelor’s of surgery from Kurnool hospitalist at
Medical College, a prestigious medical school in southern Gateway Medical
India, she followed with a fellowship in that particular field of Center in
interest. Clarksville – and
It wasn’t until her move to the United States with her a 3-year-old
husband in 2006 – a move prompted by the promise of a daughter.
higher level of medical training – that she fell in love with “I am so
rheumatology. She did her internship and residency in internal happy and
medicine at Texas Tech and her fellowship in rheumatology at glad to be here
Indiana University School of Medicine. She says she enjoys the to serve this
different challenges it can bring day-to-day. community,”
“The subject itself always fascinated me, and when I came Pabolu said.
to do my medical training here, my interest grew,” she said. “It’s only
“There was no rheumatology in my part of the country (in been a month,
India) at that time – there was no separate subspecialty for it. but I have loved
“I also had a professor in my internal medicine training this place so
who was a rheumatologist, and he was an inspiration to me,” much,” she said.
Pabolu continued. “He was an excellent teacher, and the way “The people
he approached this subject and his patients made a big impact are really good
Dr. sangeetha Pabolu
on me. This specialty does deal with a lot of rare disorders, people and are
so there is a lot of diversity. Each and every patient is so very cooperative,
different.” understanding
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