Titan Eddie George Defines Refines His Brand

Ex-Tennessee Titan Eddie George made his mark on the playing fields of the over nine seasons and pocketed a as a star running back at Ohio State before that Equipment Landscaping.

But these days, George is more interested in building a corporate identity to rival other ex-athletes such as , ex-pro quarterback and basketball legend Earvin “Magic” Johnson.

Last week, in an interview with Randy McClain, George discussed his goals for a and he co-founded five years ago, and brainstormed about how to shape what he calls the “Eddie George” brand.

n 2000, I went back to school to finish up my landscape architecture degree. … I was 16 hours short. I didn’t want to leave that undone. I had aspirations of doing things business-wise after I finished playing football, and on top of that I was going to be just the first or second athlete at Ohio State to ever go through their architecture program.

So, that’s something I wanted as an accomplishment under my belt. Equipment Landscaping A year later — after getting my degree — I called my professor, Jim Hiss, who was instrumental in helping me get through the program and asked his advice on starting my own architecture firm. How could I do that?

Given the fact that I hadn’t practiced in the profession, I felt like my main focus in starting the company would be to bring relationships that I had already established in the business community to the table. And pair that with expertise of others to create our company.

I would be the and market the firm and make sure we were producing the correct product.

, Jim Hiss, and (later) John Haas in Nashville — all of them have a connection to Ohio State and the architecture program. We started in a small box-like office in ’s home and shortly thereafter, about two years, we merged with an existing land planning firm (in Columbus, Ohio) to give us that balance of land planning with architecture. We have offices in Columbus and Nashville and about 35 employees. We are about to open another office in Toledo, Ohio. We have four or five equal partners.

We are slowly but surely going into markets where I have had success in my playing career (which ended in 2005) and I am known in the community.

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
0

Monday, May 26th, 2008

Equipment Landscaping No Comments

An ‘Extreme’ chance to help family in need

By Erin Edgemon, Post
The most thrilling part of being on the set of a network television show is not seeing the star but seeing all of the commotion and all of the pieces coming together. The commotion and the excitement are on an even more spectacular scale on the set of ABC’s Extreme Makeover: Home Edition where volunteers work at a frantic pace to create magic for a family who lost everything.Working amid the flurry of activity was an experience John Anderson, owner of Anderson Pool %26 Spa in Murfreesboro, will never forget. Volunteers and crew from the show spent one week in August building the dream home of Amy and Jerrod Hawkins of Hendersonville. Amy’s selflessness made national news. She was left paralyzed after using her body to shield her sons during an April 7 tornado. “The scale of it was unbelievable,” Anderson said. Anderson, an international and national award-winning custom builder, played a major role in building a for the family. His company was just one of several Middle Tennessee builders and contractors who worked to pull off the job. The show is slated to air tonight at 8 on ABC. “It looked impressive,” Anderson said of the construction. “They worked 24 hours a day. People were standing around like flies waiting for their time to work.” Construction on the home started on a Sunday afternoon and by Monday night the roof was on the house. “But the fact that so many people could get together on this project %26mdash; it was a once in a lifetime opportunity,” Anderson said.He said it made him feel great to be able to do something that means so much to the family. “The greatest pleasure in life is giving and helping other people,” Anderson said. “There is nothing that gives me more pleasure than giving to others or helping somebody now that we are in the position to do so.” Nikki Oakley, Anderson’s daughter and Anderson %26 Spa service manager, said it was exciting to be able to be a part of the show and to know that they are making an impact. “It was unbelievable,” she said of the project. “You see it on TV but you wonder how it happens. “I was standing still and it was like a blur around you everyone was moving so fast,” she said. Anderson didn’t get to see the house and completed, but he did get to see the show’s hunky host and carpenter Ty Pennington. Anderson, who has been building pools for 51 years, was chest deep in water tiling the when Pennington walked by, he said.”He was about as scruffy looking as he is on TV,” Anderson said laughing. Anderson is looking forward to visiting the Hawkins family after the show airs and bring them $1,000 raised by Anderson’s customers. It is enough money to pay for a year’s worth of chemicals and chlorine. Anderson %26 Spa donated $6,000 in labor and materials to the project. The crew of 10-12 worked late into the night and finished the in four and 1/2 days %26mdash; an astonishing feat, Anderson said.The custom is astonishing in itself. Anderson said the Gemini freeform has a revolutionary design and is technologically advanced. It has a prefabricated sun-tanning plaza with three waterfalls. The is fitted with a wheelchair lift and a ramp to the sunbathing plaza. Erin Edgemon can be reached at 869-0812.

Tags: , , , ,
0

Thursday, December 20th, 2007

Pool Landscaping No Comments

Main Street launches search for new leader

By ERIN EDGEMON
Downtown Murfreesboro’s revitalization program has launched the search for new leadership four months after losing its first new director in .Main Street: Murfreesboro/Rutherford County Inc. board members said they don’t think the sudden departure of its previous director will hurt the new search process.”We were disappointed,” Mary Beth Wilson, board chair, said of the director’s departure. “It wasn’t a setback because she wasn’t there long enough to get really involved with the organization.”Main Street is affiliated with the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s National Main Street Center. It was formed in 1985 to revitalize the downtown by hosting events and serving as a liaison between the public and private sectors. Main Street organizes such events as the Main Street JazzFest.Lee Ann Will was hired for the executive director position after an exhaustive search from a pool of 130 candidates. She started Jan. 2 and resigned effective Feb. 7.Wills replaced Janelee Wise, who retired from the position at the end of 2006.Wilson said she isn’t concerned that Will’s quick departure will hurt the search process this time around.”It is a golden opportunity for someone to come in and make a difference in Rutherford County, she said.Former board chair Ron Taylor said another lengthy search process takes away from the board moving forward and furthering the mission of Main Street. But he agrees that there should be a healthy of candidates interested in the position.Wilson said Main Street is looking for a new executive director with strong downtown economic development, business development, revitalization or commercial real estate experience as the board refocuses on redevelopment and “invigorating” businesses downtown.Main Street will continue to work towards strengthening the downtown area. The organization recently moved into new offices at 225 W. College St.”We want the first impression to be the best that it can be,” Wilson said. The executive director position will be officially posted early this week. Anyone interested in the position can view the job description and get additional information at www.downtownmurfreesboro.com.”We are going to find the right person for the job so I am not going to put a deadline on it right now,” Wilson said. “We would hope to have someone in the position by September or October.”Wills left Main Street to take a development position with Easter Seals in Nashville. She had most recently worked as director of development for the Nashville Ballet.”We felt she was an excellent fit for us,” Wilson said, but she expects the job was too much for Wills to handle.”We are a very vibrant and active organization,” Wilson added.Murfreesboro native Libby Green has served as interim director. She will step down after Main Street’s main fundraiser of the year, the Taste of Rutherford, on June 30.Erin Edgemon can be reached at 869-0812 and at eedgemon@murfreeboropost.com.

Tags: , , ,
0

Thursday, December 20th, 2007

Pool Landscaping No Comments

Work well under way at Mall, but few details available

By ERIN EDGEMON
Construction is progressing on Stones River Mall as it prepares for some April and September openings, said its general manager. The new two-story, 145,000-square-foot Dillard’s is set to open April 25, said Jeff Liposky. The mall’s new food court is set to open Sept. 1 and interior renovations are scheduled to be completed by that time as well. A event is scheduled for Sept. 6.Once it is empty, the old Dillard’s store will be demolished and transformed into a lifestyle center meaning stores in that section will have exterior entrances. It is expected to have attractive pedestrian . Mall officials have yet to release what stores are coming to the new center or the food court.If they have tenants signed, then why aren’t they releasing them to the public? It doesn’t really make any sense to me unless it has to do with the competition.The Avenue at Murfreesboro, an 800,000-square-foot under construction on Medical Center Parkway, is supposed to open several stores in August. Cousins Properties, one of the of the project, released names of a couple dozen tenants months ago. If Cousins can do it, then why can’t General Growth Properties, which manages Stones River Mall?Based on the food court offerings of other malls managed by General Growth Properties, shoppers could expect anything from McDonalds, CinnaBon and Sbarro Italian Eatery to Subway, Steak Escape and China Express to open at the revamped mall.I have heard that some of Stones River Mall’s existing stores will be relocating from inside the mall to the center, and at least one restaurant on a mall outparcel should also be expected. Liposky said new parking fields on the north side of the mall are completed with new landscaping and lighting. Parking on the south side of the mall on the Old Fort Parkway side is under construction and should be completed by Sept. 6. Interior renovations under way at Stones River Mall include new Italian floor tile and Tuscan-inspired arched ceilings, a new coat of paint in warm colors and other amenities.Oh, and for those of you who are curious, the stores and restaurants likely to open at The Avenue in August include Longhorn Steakhouse, Mimi’s Café, Jos A. Bank, New York %26 Co., Best Buy, Belk, Cost Plus World Market (the best store possibly ever), Romano’s Macaroni Grill and Off Broadway.Other stores that have been announced for the massive mall or its outparcels that will likely open by this fall include Brighton, Coldwater Creek, Francesca’s Collections, Kay Jewelers, The Children’s Place, Yankee Candle, Petco, Linen ‘N Things, Ann Taylor Loft, Aveda, Barnes %26 Noble, Carters, Champs Sports, Chico’s, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Lane Bryant, Limited Too, Osh Kosh B’Gosh, Talbots, Ulta and White House/Black Market.Announcements of dozens of other stores planning to open at The Avenue will hopefully come soon. Erin Edgemon can be reached at 869-0812 and at eedgemon@murfreesboropost.com.

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
0

Thursday, December 20th, 2007

Pool Landscaping No Comments

Dutton translates business passion into profits

By ERIN EDGEMON

David Dutton

Who is David Dutton Jr.?The Murfreesboro native is an Internet marketing consultant and author whose passion is leading others to do what they love.And the self-proclaimed “two weeks notice expert,” is using techniques he learned from online entrepreneurs and millionaires to teach others how to get their name out and make money following their passion.”I teach people how to take their passion and make on it,” he said. “I teach people how to market themselves.”Dutton, 29, shares free marketing tips at his Web site www.murfreesboromarketingtips.com and charges clients for one-on-one consulting.While working on a Bible degree at Tennessee Temple University in Chattanooga several years ago, Dutton spent lot of time reading and doing research on the Internet. He still spends about 40-50 hours online.Dutton read about people making thousands or millions of dollars on the Internet. He sought these people out, started asking questions and then began brokering deals. Dutton has worked with such people as Joe Vitale, “the world’s first hypnotic marketer,” and Heidi Bressler from Donald Trump’s “Apprentice” television show.He wrote about some of these people, whose stories admittingly sound too good to be true, in his first book “Internet Empire Vol. 1″ published by Westview Publishing in Nashville.In the book, Dutton shares the stories of eight business people who have found success making on the Internet such as Willie Crawford who makes $250,000 a year selling soul food cookbooks from his Web site www.chitterlings.com, and Jim Nelson who makes $95,000 a year selling juggling supplies from his site www.jugglenow.com.Nationally known marketing expert David Frey has praised Dutton’s book.”If you’re not motivated to start an online business after reading David Dutton’s book, you need to be resuscitated,” he said.Volumes two through five of Dutton’s book series will be coming out in the next few months. Dutton’s books will soon be available at www.amazon.com.”I have tons of real-life stories of people making ,” Dutton said.At an early age, Dutton realized the importance of networking and knowing people who are following their passion. “I know the saying is true, ‘You are who you hang out with,’ so I choose to hang out with millionaires,” he said.By the age of 16, Dutton knew he wanted to be an entrepreneur. Since then, he has started several businesses, including a landscaping company, a telemarketing company and was instrumental in launching a seven-figure import/export company.Dutton is now teaching entrepreneurs how to effectively market themselves and obtain a referral-only business.”Referrals tend to spend more often because they know they can trust you,” Dutton explained. “At the end of the day people buy from who they trust.” can easily increase their business by 20 percent by following simple techniques, he said.To gain referrals, must care about their customers, follow up with them and keep in contact long term, Dutton said.He recommends having customized cards send to customers to thank them for their business, to announce sales, for birthdays and to educate. Dutton uses www.sendoutcards.com. They allow individuals to pick from several hundreds different cards and customize them to suit their needs.The Web site can send dozens of cards out at the same time and send the user reminders of important dates. Cards cost less than $1 to create online and have mailed out by the U.S. Postal Service. The site can even create type font of the users’ handwriting. Dutton said he has big plans for his future. He plans to start “Two Weeks Notice Radio” online soon and offer seminars to teach people that they can make with their life experience. And, of course, become a millionaire himself.Erin Edgemon can be reached at 869-0812 and at eedgemon@murfreesboropost.com.FYI…Local marketing expert David Dutton is partnering with Mark Hollinshead of First Tennessee Home Loans to host a free seminar teaching simple ways to increase their referral business.The seminar slated for April 5 at 9 a.m. at the Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce is already booked, but Dutton plans to host additional seminars in the future.On the Web:www.getmoremurfreesborocustomers.comwww.whoisdaviddutton.comwww.murfreesboromarketingtips.com

Tags: , , , , ,
0

Thursday, December 20th, 2007

Pool Landscaping No Comments


website counter