Cybera picks Scorecard exec

Franklin-based Cybera picked a former Investment Scorecard and Ticketmaster executive, David Lafontaine, to be its new VP for its customer resource group. Release here.

Hemlock Semi synergies

Business Editor Jimmy Settle of the Leaf-Democrat explains how Hemlock Semiconductor's presence in Clarksville will attract additional employers, as has a similar operation in Michigan. The L-D (Gannett) has it.

Cancer-detection breakthrough

As the 70-year-old CEO of EDP Biotech Corp. in Knoxville, Tom Boyd (at left, in shirt from another venture) must be an interesting guy, and his firm probably deserves the sudden buzz they're getting, as a result of their announcement Friday, which read in part, saying the company has introduced a "revolutionary new technology for a simple blood test to detect early-stage colon cancer. Following the success of its pre-clinical trials for the ColoMarker™ assay, EDP has filed a patent on the biomarker, CA11-19, and all aspects of its use. Via an inexpensive blood test, ColoMarker™ will detect colon cancer in its earliest, most curable stages."

Ingram Content Group's CEO speaks

Tennessean Business Editor Rand McClain interviews Ingram Content Group CEO Skip Prichard on books-on-demand digital venture, and more here.

State revenue outlook

The State Funding Board, which includes the state's treasurer and secretary of state, Gov. Phil Bredesen's F&A commissioner and others, sees no improvement in State revenue the next couple of years. Chattanoogan.com Meanwhile, KNS Columnist David Moon offers some anecdotal information on the economic outlook here. And, there's this report from the TFP on the flat revenue trend at TN Lottery, and the negative impact on HOPE scholarship funding.

SiValley economic report

No longer immune from downturns, Silicon Valley unemployment continues near 12 percent, with prospect as uncertain as the rest of the nation's. The Mercury News reports.

Digitizing hospitals for quality

Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare Inc. says digital records and other data improves the quality of care, as well as efficiency and paper reduction. CA reports.

Metro General's Coopwood to the Med

Memphis Daily News reports Dr. Reginald Coopwood, M.D., who heads the Metro hospital authority and its Metro General Hospital at Meharry, has been chosen the CEO of the Regional Medical Center at Memphis (the MED). A Nashville native long associated with Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Coopwood took the Metro position in 2005.

VU Scientist

Holley-Bockelmann (left), assistant professor of physics and astronomy at Vanderbilt University, has, according to a VU release yesterday, received nearly $1.1 million over five years from the National Science Foundation to use computer simulations to study how “supermassive” black holes grow. VU also said that due to an infusion of ARRA Stimulus funds, the grant is the largest-to-date awarded in the field of astronomy via the NSF Faculty Early Career Development program, which honors extraordinary junior faculty. VU said Holley-Bockelmann has elected to direct a portion of the grant funds toward the Fisk-Vanderbilt Master-to-Ph.D. Bridge Program – an effort to encourage minorities and women to pursue science careers. In the past five years, the Bridge program has attracted 31 underrepresented minority students with a retention rate of 97 percent, and may soon become the nation’s top source of PhD's in physics and astronomy awarded to underrepresented minorities. Last summer, VU announced the Bridge program had in the span of a few months received $3.7 million from several federal programs to support and expand its efforts.

Axis adds development pro

Brentwood-based Axis Accounting Systems President Greg Lemon today announced the firm has added Eddy Richardson (at left), previously associated with ComFrame, Broadwing and Cottonwood software and IT firms, to Axis' staff, as director of business development.

Bredesen's Special Session

Gov. Phil Bredesen's plan to call the General Assembly into special session to grapple with K-12 and postsecondary education reform -- ostensibly prompted by the state's planned "Race to the Top" grant-application submission -- is assayed by Andy Sher in today's TFP.

NeoGenomics appointment

NeoGenomics Inc. (NASD OTC BB: NGNM), the Fort Myers, Fla.-based company that has a cancer genetics diagnostic lab in Nashville's Grassmere Park, announced it's named Jack Spitz vice president over lab operations. Spitz was previously in charge of operations for Orlando, Fla.-based Dermpath Diagnostics, a division of Quest Diagnostics.

Documentary Channel commercialized

Nashville-based Documentary Channel has relinquished its non-profit status, for full commercial channel status, strengthening its relationship with Dish Network and supposedly opening new opportunities for cable carriage. Nashville Business Journal reports it. In July, VNC reported on DocChannel's recap and founder John Neff's ceding leadership of the company to James Ackerman (left).

UT-Battelle tests well

UT-Battelle reportedly got all A's in its annual report card from key customer, the U.S. Department of Energy. Frank Munger has it in the KNS.

Fi TV signs Hamilton County

EPB Fiber Optic's Fi TV service signed a franchise agreement with Hamilton County yesterday, according to Chattanoogan.com.

TeamHealth IPO rises

TeamHealth (NYSE:TMH) stock rose 7 percent yesterday, following its IPO, which was scaled-back, apparently reflecting weaker-than-hoped-for demand. KNS reports.

Scripps brand Travels

Scripps Networks completed its acquisition of 65 percent interest in the Travel Channel. Scripps also owns Knoxville-based HGTV, among other properties. The KNS reports.

Memphian on Digital Divide

Benjamin Hooks, former NAACP chief and FCC commissioner, opines today in the CA on Internet have-nots, regulation and enterprise.

Husband of Ms Cheap promoted at VUMC

Erstwhile Nashville Banner City Editor and 23-year veteran of VU Medical Center corridors Bill Hance (at left) has been promoted to assistant vice chancellor for VUMC news and communications, and John Howser, who started at VU 22 years ago as a photographer, is now director of VUMC news and communications. Hance is married, of course, to the inimitable Mary Hance, aka Ms. Cheap of The Tennessean, and, earlier, the Banner. Hance earned his J-degree at Western Kentucky and a J.D. at Nashville School of Law. The Hances reside in Nashville's Richland-West end neighborhood. Do we need to explain this item was penned with affection?

Fiddlecakes owners serious about taste

Natasha Ross (far left), 27, co-owner of the new "Euro"-styled Fiddlecakes Bakery on 8th Avenue South knows she's assertive. Now, she's taken her drive and her insistence on doing business with baked-in goodness a step farther. Having left her marketing and jane-of-all-trades role at Universal Robotics earlier this year, Ross and co-owner Lindsay Beckner, also 27, are dishing-up lunch, cakes, coffee, all with a dash of wi-fi, six days a week. Originally from Stockton, Calif., Ross holds an MBA from Vanderbilt's Owen GSM, and a bachelor's from Scripps University at Claremont. She has also held her own in marketing, sales and management jobs within a pharma businesses, with a music publisher and others. Beckner (on the right above), a finance and wealth-management professional who previously worked with Woodmont Investment Counsel, Wachovia, London-based HSBC and other institutions, told VNC during the luncheon rush today that things are going well, with both women up to their tastebuds in eat-in, takeout, and catering, with gluten-free and Vegan recipes. We will be away from our desk for the next hour.

eSpin expands on $3MM grant

Chattanooga-based Jayesh Doshi's (at left) eSpin Technologies nanofibers company is expanding its high-tech workforce, in the wake of a $3MM Department of Commerce grant, matched by private funds. The TFP reports.

Computer Genomix targets TNInvestcos

With genetic research all the rage, Memphis-based Computer Genomix sets out tomorrow to tap Nashville-based TNInvestcos for capital. Read the story here.

Revalida nanoventure

Revalida, a nanotech venture created by several Vanderbilt faculty members, is about to tap investors for its first outside capital, in a move to advance treatment of eye diseases, cancer and other problems. The story's here.

Ecteon's new release

Brentwood-based Ecteon Inc., led by CEO Richard Eckerstrom (left), today announced a new release of its contracts-management software.

Bredesen co-chairs Achieve

Gov. Phil Bredesen now stands alongside former Intel board chairman Craig Barrett as co-chairs of Achieve, the group that supports the Diploma Project in 35 states, including Tennessee. The Achieve release is here.

TeamHealth IPO tomorrow?

Knoxville-based TeamHealth may price tonight and trade on NYSE (TMH) tomorrow, hoping to crank more than $140MM, including the sale of some PE stock holdings. The company staffs and supports ERs. The KNS reports.

Arnold AFB CO courts industry

Arnold AFB Commander Col. Mike Panarisi told Nashville Public Radio he aims to recruit more industry to use the wind tunnels of Arnold Engineering Development Center.

DOE now a VC

The Wall Street Journal reports how the Department of Energy's grants have rekindled progress at a hybrid automobile startup, as part of Stimulus investment push that may have distorted the VC landscape.

UT, Vanderbilt cyberinfrastructure work

The University of Tennessee and Vanderbilt University are part of a team led by Clemson University to advance cybersecurity and infrastructure, including development, research and education. Clemson release here.

EPB may skip Signal Mtn.

Signal Mountain, adjacent Chattanooga, may be skipped by EPB, because of a dispute over possible links between EPB service offerings and the current Comcast franchise with the municipality. Chattanoogan.com reports.

Medaxion's McLaren Moving to Market

One of Jeff McLaren's competitive advantages has to be his prior experience dealing with anesthesiologists, as well as his decade helping guide the company he co-founded: HealthStream. Now, Medaxion is focused on raising capital and introducing to market an iPhone application for supporting anesthesia practice teams. Read the story here.

Entrepreneur Center Search update

Nashville Technology Council CEO Tod Fetherling tells VNC that Entrepreneur Center supporters have done well enough, already, to surpass their initial $200K target for raising money to enable the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce-linked EC to proceed with hiring its first executive director. Further, said Fetherling, there's now a strong field of candidates and someone could well be in-place by late January, and possibly announced even sooner. Fetherling said that Janet Miller has led the fundraising, with Fetherling and EC Project Manager Joe Kustelski also contributing to the effort.

More kudos! for Jacobson

Again last week, Dr. Harry Jacobson, M.D., physician, scholar, teacher and entrepreneur was honored -- this time by the Nashville Health Care Council, which he helped foster and sustain. Read the Council's full statement on the Dec. 9 presentation of its first-ever Crystal Leaf award. Jacobson is on sabbatical prior to retirement from his post as Vanderbilt University vice chancellor emeritus. At left are Jacobson and award presenter Tom Cigarran, a former Council chairman and founder of Healthways.

TNInvestco, Space Institute in focus

State Sen. Bill Ketron (R-Murfreesboro) tells VNC he'd like to see TNInvestco expanded and the mission of the UT Space Institute broadened, and the organization renamed. Read about it here.

UT chief search critical

Nashville attorney Jim Murphy, who is vice chair of the UT Board, is among those commenting on the challenges facing the next president of the University of Tennessee, ranging from coping with the end of Stimulus funding and strengthening relationships with ORNL and other partners, to improving the environment for students. The KNS reports.

Jaded

Paul Carr's TechCrunch post via The Washington Post reminds us that it's great to have a relatively small venturetech beat, one you really care about.

Megasite multi-issues

It all sounds pretty simple, outside Haywood County... a new megasite to be marketed. But, in a series of stories here.. here.. and here.. Memphis Daily News reports on the ramifications for the community, the environment and the budget.

Moontoasties congregating

Moontoast is using its $800K capital raise to advance the social-commerce features of its website. HT: NashvillePost.com.

UT Health Science chancellor search

A 20-member committee has been appointed to find the next Chancellor of the University of Tennessee Health Sciences Center, at Memphis. The KNS reports. St. Jude Children's Research Hospital William Evans will co-chair the search with a UT human-resources officer, Linda Hendricks. Evans is currently chairman, also, of Tennessee Technology Development Corporation.

Bredesen announces STEM education push

A release from Gov. Bredesen's office this morning reads in part: "Governor Phil Bredesen, joined by NASA Space Shuttle pilot and Mt. Juliet native Capt. Barry Wilmore, today announced a new public education partnership with the global research and development enterprise Battelle as part of Tennessee's push in the federal Race to the Top competition for education innovation. Under the partnership, Battelle, which co-manages Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) in a joint venture with the University of Tennessee, will work with the state Department of Education and local school systems to establish a statewide network of programs and schools designed to promote and expand the teaching and learning of science, technology, engineering, and math - or STEM - education..."

New president at Waddey & Patterson

In a release today, Waddey & Patterson PC, said, "Attorney Ed Lanquist [left] has been elected president and managing partner of Waddey & Patterson, P.C. Lanquist succeeds Jack Waddey and Mark Patterson, who continue their full time legal practice with the firm that they established in 1992..." Lanquist earned his J.D. at the University of Tennessee Law School and his bachelor's in civil engineering at UT. Lanquist has chaired the Nashville Bar Association Intellectual Property and Continuing Legal Education Committees; and, he is former president of the Tennessee Intellectual Property Law Association and former chairman of the ABA Young Lawyers Division: Patent, Copyright, and Trademark Committee.

Bartholomew adds CEO title at HCCA

HCCA International President David Bartholomew (at left) has added the CEO title, according to a release today. Bartholomew succeeds Ron Martson, who'll consult to the company, as he pursues other interests in international healthcare.

TNInvestco might yet lure startup, too late for another

This item may cause a little discomfort: Acuitec, the Birmingham-based business built around surgical-centered information management systems developed in collaboration with Vanderbilt University Medical Center clinicians, surpassed its A-round goal earlier this year, raising just over $1.6MM, according to CEO Lionel Tehini, in conversation Tuesday with VNC. As VNC reported a year ago, Acuitec would have probably relocated to Nashville, had it raised the bulk of its funds in this region, but that was not to be: Tehini said the entire round was taken by Birmingham-area investors. Nonetheless, Tehini told VNC he sees many exciting things going on Tennessee -- TNInvestco, foremost among them -- and he said a future Acuitec move here should not be discounted entirely. He said it's possbile Acuitec will pursue another capital round in 2010. Nashville has gotten more than one lesson about losing startups to well-heeled competitors: In 2008, Veran Medical Technologies, founded by Owen Grad School alum Jerome Edwards, relocated to St. Louis, where, among other inducements, he found the capital and expertise he needed. Perhaps ironically, TNInvestco applicant Advantage Capital Partners, which recently failed in a bid to secure a role in Tennessee's new capital-formation program, was one of the investors that lured Veran to St. Louis. Yesterday, Veran announced FDA approval for marketing a Veran medical device that helps physicians gain access to potentially cancerous nodules in the pulmonary tract. RETURN TO LATEST VENTURE NASHVILLE NEWS HERE.

Vic Gatto keeps learning

It's speakers' responses to audience questions that often catch our attention: As when during the recent NTC capital forum Solidus VC Vic Gatto answered a question from Brainwave entrepreneur Rob Solberg. Gatto revealed he's been studying online games and the intersection of mobile and social, and finds it an "exciting space," particularly if there's a new platform emerging. Read about the forum here.

CompassEMP names President

Brentwood-based Compass Efficient Model Portfolios has named Rob Walker Jr. (left) president, according to Managing Partner David Moore. Walker is a veteran of Regions Financial, Merrill Lynch & Co., WebMD/Emdeon, KPAC Solutions, Caris Diagnostics and Hothead Partners, a management consulting firm. His clients have included Asurion, Salix Ventures and others. He holds a Harvard MBA and a Samford bachelor's.

Google 'Living Stories' news experiment

Google's Living Stories beta news product, developed in collaboration with NYT, WP and others, is available for critique here, using HealthCare as an example. Give the page a second to load. For more story options, click the 'All Stories' link.

Esoteric Labs eyes expansion

American Esoteric Labs, in Memphis, is designing its expanded facilities, now that it has a local government taxbreak in-hand. The MDN reports.

ORNL 'Green' $$

Oak Ridge NL is set to pursue a fresh round of funding for Green science and development, according to Frank Munger at the KNS. In addition, Lab Manager provides an update on ORNL's new carbon-fiber facility. Also, ONRL Director Mason says 'Climategate' is a serious distraction from more important facts.

BioMimetic share purchases by Novo A/S

Franklin-based BioMimetic Therapeutics (NASDAQ: BMTI) and Novo A/S today announced Novo A/S has "implemented a 10b5-1 trading plan, providing for open market purchases of BioMimetic common stock... Currently, Novo A/S beneficially owns approximately 17% of the common stock of BioMimetic. Thorkil Christensen, CFO of Novo A/S and a member of BioMimetic’s board of directors, noted that, "Novo does not intend to increase its ownership in BioMimetic in excess of 25%, nor does it intend to seek to acquire or exercise control over the company. Novo intends to purchase additional securities pursuant to the announced program for investment purposes."

PharmMD $8MM equity raise

Brentwood-based PharmMD, the medication-management services company formed by Clayton McWhorter and run by President-CEO Bo Bartholomew, has secured an $8 million equity investment from an undisclosed source, according to NashvillePost.com.

eDoc4U, PureSafety pact

eDoc4U, the online health and wellness information provider that's a division of West End Avenue-based incubator ConduIT Corporation, announced a marketing and service alliance with PureSafety.

Chattanooga revenue-cycle acquisition

Chattanooga-based Orthobanc LLC announced yesterday it has acquired another software company, Acceptx Financial Services, Inc., and its patient-case acceptance software for medical and orthodontic practices. Acceptx is based in Bountiful, Utah. Acceptx's main offerings were built around the ZACC credit-analysis tool owned by consultant Paul Zuelke, of Portland, Ore. Orthobanc also offers Tuitionbanc, to help parents and students manage students' checking accounts and related assets. [HT to Chattanoogan.com]

SmartFurniture goes Google

Chattanooga-based SmartFurniture announced its launch of SmartDesigner®, an online application based on the Google O3D platform to enable consumers to design custom furniture and plan personalized spaces in 3D views of their homes or offices.

Aegis Health urges industry action on health policy

In a white paper promoted this morning in a release, Aegis Health Group CEO Henry Ross urged the healthcare industry not to sit on the sidelines awaiting the outcome of the healthcare policy debate.

UT Space Institute chief named

The University of Tennessee Space Institute (UTSI) at Tullahoma will be led by UT Prof. Robert Moore (at left), who's been with UT 28 years, and who previously headed the UT College of Veterinary Medicine's Comparative and Experimental Medicine Graduate Program. The KNS reports. UT's release is here.

UT budget shortfall worsens

The University of Tennessee is looking at a budget shortfall equal to 20 percent of the State's total contribution to the school, with repercussions for tuition, lengthened days, cutbacks and other facets of the institution. The TFP reports.

nTelagent honors

A Georgia rural-hospital group, HomeTown Health, named nTelagent its business partner of the year.

Babcock & Wilcox public companies news

Oak Ridge NL-allied Babcock & Wilcox announced yesterday its parent will split into two public companies.

RemitDATA payments benchmarking

Payments software provider RemitDATA of Memphis announced it has allied with the Texas Academy of Family Physicians to aggregate physician payments data and develop benchmarks for identifying problematic payers and reimbursement trends.

Oak Ridge industrial Park

The Oak Ridge Industrial Development Board has an opportunity to acquire Horizon Center Industrial Park from a community nonprofit, and supporters of the move suggest it'll improve industry recruitment. The KNS reports.

VW hiring pressure

Volkswagen continues to face pressure from unions and others to hire more Tennessee residents for its new Hamilton County production facilities. The TFP reports.

Radio station goes solar

WYSH 1380 AM in Clinton is reducing its carbon footprint by going with solar power for both studios and transmitter, which is apparently a first in the nation. Larisa Brass of the KNS reports.

InMotion campaign advances

In Memphis, the InMotion Orthopaedic Research Center is nearing completion of its $6MM raise for sustaining its operations. The MBJ reports.

Fate of Compliant license uncertain

We reported on Compliant Therapeutics hopes for a license for Vanderbilt nanotechnology, but by midday that had clearly been threatened. Entrepreneur Eric Elmquist has other plans, but none perhaps so immediately compelling as this starter idea. There may've been a miscue, somewhere along the road. Read about it here.

VU-linked Robotics venture sets raise

Universal Robotics is going after its third private-capital raise, hoping to get to market with its advanced AI systems, by next year. They've also optioned some property in Davidson County for a small R&D campus. Read about it here.

New incubator, fund for 'Mobile' startups

Three entrepreneurs in Chattanooga have created Three Point Ventures LLC, to both incubate and help fund new ventures in the 'Mobile' space. Read about it. [HT to Chattanoogan.com for alerting us.]

Capital Confirmation award

Another one for the trophy case: Capital Confirmation Inc., the provider of secure audit confirmation services, announced today that its online audit confirmation solution, Confirmation.com, has won first place in The CPA Technology Advisor Readers' Choice Award for Best Audit/Engagement Tools.

Toward exascale computing

An ORNL scientist is among those forecasting exascale (1,000 times as fast as petascale) computing by 2018. Computerworld reports.

Branding Q

A Memphis columnist reminds us small businesses, as well as big can benefit from strong branding that reflects consistent consumer experience. The CA has it.

Bredesen and two-year colleges

The Times Free Press' Joan Garrett provides in-depth coverage of Gov. Phil Bredesen's intentions regarding raising education outcomes at community colleges, while strengthening four-year institutions. Garrett also reports on the leverage inherent in the proximity of Chattanooga State Community College and UT-Chattanooga.

TN Green jobs review

Ed Marcum of Knoxville News Sentinel reviews prospects, pay and politics of Green jobs in Tennessee.

TN news media, FCC, Blog disclosure

The FCC wants to see conspicuous disclosures from bloggers who receive benefits from the subjects of their reviews or reportorial coverage. The CA reports. The Internet Advertising Bureau's CEO responded to this impulse. CA Columnist Chris Peck comments on related Tennessee media developments.

SiValley links to hedge fund scandal

Allegations of insider trading have broadened from Galleon and New Castle funds to tipsters and others in the Valley. The Mercury News reports.

VW prototyping on-sked

Volkswagen's testing of prototypes for the new midsize sedan (NMS) it will build in Chattanooga is on schedule. An advanced prototype will be built in Chattanooga in 2010, with production greenlighted in 2011. The TFP reports.

The Apple-Lala Axis

Apple is, according to a New York Times report, buying Venture-funded, Palo Alto-based Lala, to enable consumers to manage and enjoy their music via the Cloud (Web), rather than having to download, synch, etc.

Wamp stumping Defense-Security

U.S. Rep. Zach Wamp (R-Chattanooga) is still stumping for Tennessee and the TN Valley Corridor to seize opportunities to develop Defense and Homeland Security industries, according to a report in the Times Free Press. The story indicates Wamp's Republican opponents for governor in the 2010 race are unconvinced regarding his election prospects. Wamp first unveiled his Defense-Security strategy during the recen TVC meeting reported by VNC.

Team Health IPO

Knoxville-based TeamHealth, a hospital-staffing firm, is taking its investor show on the road, plumping for its shelf-registered IPO on the NYSE, where Team Health Holdings would trade as TMH. The KNS reports.

UT-ORNL fellowships

UT and ORNL are teaming to offer graduate-student fellowships in materials science, computational science, nuclear science and neutron science with coursework through UT’s College of Engineering and College of Arts and Sciences. $30K annual stipends are offered. The KNS reports.

Luminetx being sold to Japanese

The creator of VeinViewer, Memphis-based Luminetx, may soon be sold to Japan-based Christie Digital Systems, part of Ushio Inc., according to Commercial Appeal and Memphis Daily News. The buyer's U.S. office is in Cypress, Calif. Christie has been a major lender to Luminetx, during the company's roller-coaster ride of recent years. Despite a celebrated technology and revenue, the company apparently failed to overcome management and strategy shifts and gain sufficient traction, on its own.

Volkswagen synergy

Volkswagen Chattanooga President Frank Fischer told a press conference yesterday that VW will probably locate nine supplier companies within its Enterprise Park site, and within 20 miles of that location may also establish a distribution center. VW received 65,000 applications for jobs, 25,000 for management posts. The VW training center, operated by Chattanooga State, should open in January. About 300 persons are currently employed in the area for Chattanooga, including 45 from Germany. Chattanoogan.com and TFP report it.

Slamdot BAM strategy

In Knoxville, web-developer Slamdot has opened a retail bricks-and-mortar presence, to help demystify web-developer selection. The KNS reports.

Ballmer, Lundberg at NTC event

Nashville Technology Council reminded us this morning its 2nd Annual Membership Breakfast, Jan. 20, 2010, will feature not only Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer (at left); but, also, former CIO Magazine Editor Abbie Lundberg.

Betancourt the Angel

Resolved in 2010: Get to know more about Ernie Betancourt. He didn't just sell his software firm (ICC), but he simultaneously launched QuikQ, a new software venture; and, said he's interested in becoming an active Angel investor. Kudos! Then, too, we learned he also crewed Jolly Greens in Vietnam. Hooah.

TNInvestco prospects

All six TNInvestco firms met their minimum insurance-industry commitment requirements, and now there's an unfolding discussion of whether and when to expand the pool of tax credits that fuels the TNInvestco fund now, and in future. State Sen. Doug Overbey weighs-in, somewhat cautiously. Read the story here.

No doubt: Bradford reappointed Owen GSM dean

Vanderbilt University Provost Richard McCarty apparently knows when a school's on a roll: He announced the reappointment of Owen Graduate School of Management Dean Jim Bradford (left), who has an impressive career in business to draw upon.

Excellent TN Solar report

There's an excellent summary of Tennessee's Solar progress online from the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy. (HT to ORNL news office.)

Dialogic's new GM

Bob Freinberg (at left) has been named vice president and general manager of Dialogic Communications Corp., a unit of PlantCML based in Franklin. Freinberg worked in executive and consultant roles with PlantCML, 2001-08, supporting sales, marketing and business development. Earlier, he was vice president for sales and marketing for Networks Telephony Corporation. Before NTC, he spent roughly 19 years with GTE/Verizon in eight different roles, ending in 1997 as vice president and general manager of business sales and service. He earned an MBA at Michigan State University's Eli Broad Graduate School of Management in 1978, and his bachelor's in marketing at the University of Baltimore in 1974. Dialogic sold to PlantCML in 2006.

Loophole tempest

Tom Humphrey of the KNS reports on the Tennessee Department of Revenue's refusal to undertake data analysis and reporting requested by Tennesseans for Fair Taxation.

edo Interactive: No worries

American Express recently cannonballed into the online payments field with its $300MM acquisition of Revolution Money, a person-to-person payments platform. Among other movants, SocialWise and OfferPal have teamed up to offer BillMyParents.com. No worries, though, at Nashville-based edo Interactive. edo CEO Ed Braswell (at left), responding to our query about the splash made by AmEx, told us a few days ago, "Revolution Money has not been a direct competitor to edo. I think the validation is that large payment companies are looking for innovation, they are not building internally due to budget cuts in R&D. I see the acquisition by Amex as positive for edo."

Mercedes C-class to Alabama

Birmingham Business Journal reports that Mercedes is adding 1,000 jobs in its Vance, Ala., plant to produce its C-class sedan.

Passport Health 'access' moves

Today, Brentwood-based Passport Health Communications is teaming with Dallas-based Interface People LP to integrate MEDITECH technologies for Passport clients. Guess they'll soon add these folks to the Passport partners page. Earlier, the company announced hiring another RCM-patient access expert.

Aegis CDO is Talbert

Pearson Talbert, formerly an executive with HealthSouth and with Ingram & Associates, an affiliate of AIM Healthcare Services, has joined Aegis Health Group as chief development officer for the workplace wellness-oriented company. Release here. Talbert earned his bachelor's in psychology at Sewanee in 1994 and his MBA at the University of Alabama in 1998.

'Fair taxation' protest

Tennesseans for Fair Taxation are demanding the State close what the group perceives as a loophole in tax laws that let companies domeciled elsewhere reduce taxable income by Tennessee subsidiaries making payments to parent companies for such things as use of company trademarks. Andy Sher of the TFP reports. Related story in the Commercial Appeal.

N'ville Software Golden Age?

Roughly five years ago, Nashville Technology Council, then led by David Condra, launched a Software Developers Roundtable. The energy in the room during the SDRT's first meeting at the University Club was amazing. People were there, open-minded and energized to plug into other people who cared about creating new technologies and applications. There were modest young startup geniuses there that day, as well as older hands (Tim, Major, Al and many others). Soon, volunteers cobbled-together a nice website (now gone into the ether), a few more meetings were held, but following Condra's retirement from his post, interest shifted to other things. I was reminded of the excitement around the SDRT this morning, while reading a story on the San Jose Mercury News' Silicon Valley site. The focus? The myriad opportunities associated with developing applications for new technology platforms. Whether SDRT or some other vehicle, maybe it's time to uncrate this idea, again.

Cogent lands Hackensack

Brentwood-based Cogent Healthcare announced today it's now contracted for hospitalist services with Hackensack (N.J.) University Medical Center, a 775-bed facility and the state's largest provider of inpatient and outpatient services.

GreenBank data security

Greeneville, Tenn.-based GreenBank won InfoWorld100 recognition for data security, after adopting ExaGrid data backup technology and services.

Broadlane alliance

Dallas-based Broadlane, which recently bought Gallatin-based Healthcare Performance Partners, announced its alliance with e-invoicing player OB10.

HCA speculation

Quick: How many times has HCA gone public? Erin Lawley's story today suggests HCA may be prepping for larger-than-usual M&A campaign or primping for another IPO. Story's here.

ARRA science impact tracked

A national association of universities has launched the ScienceWorksforUs website, to help citizens track the impact of Stimulus funding on U.S. science R&D.

TN solar shakeout

Nashville Public Radio reports some fledgling solar businesses are already folding.