We take a look at Shannon Bolden, food service director at Morning Pointe of Powell; reaction to the Tennessee Valley Authority’s new board members; the opening of a custom T-shirt shop; a major appointment at University of Tennessee Medical Center; and more. 

Exceeding Expectations

For more than a decade, Shannon Bolden has served meals and created memories with the clients and staff at Morning Pointe of Powell Senior Living.

Morning Pointe Senior Living operates 42 assisted-living and Alzheimer’s memory-care communities across five Southeastern states.

She’s the food service director there, responsible for helping to meet dietary restrictions for patients. Her bosses say she’s the backbone of the kitchen and a mentor to others. She serves smiles on the side, a source of joy for the residents there. This month she received the company’s Exceeding Expectations Award in Food Service.

“Shannon’s heart is felt in every corner of our community,” Tia El-Maayergy, executive director at Morning Pointe of Powell, said in a news release. “Her leadership, her kindness, and her dedication to making our residents feel at home are unmatched. We are incredibly proud of her and grateful to have her as part of the Morning Pointe family.”

Morning Pointe of Powell is part of Morning Pointe Senior Living, founded in 1997 by Tennessee healthcare entrepreneurs Greg A. Vital and Franklin Farrow. The company operates 42 assisted-living and Alzheimer’s memory-care communities across five Southeastern states and has more than 2,000 employees.

“Celebrating our associates and communities is more than tradition — it is the foundation of what sets Morning Pointe apart,” Vital said. “Their unwavering commitment to quality care and meaningful service is what creates true peace of mind for the residents and families who rely on us every day.”

For Bolden, it’s all in a day’s work.

“I never really felt like I was exceeding expectations,” she said. “I felt like I was just coming in (and) taking care of my family here at Morning Pointe.”

TVA board confirmation response: Cortney Piper, executive director of the Tennessee Advanced Energy Business Council (TAEBC), responded to the confirmation of a quorum to the TVA board after a historic gridlock following the firing of half of its board earlier this year:

“The Tennessee Advanced Energy Business Council applauds the U.S. Senate’s confirmation of four Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) board nominees and the restoration of a full board quorum, a development that will enable TVA to function fully and make forward-looking decisions for the Valley and our region,” Piper said in a statement. “Four nominees were confirmed as part of a broader slate of presidential appointments, restoring quorum to the board after an extended period without it. 

“TAEBC has long recognized TVA as a vital public power provider and economic driver for Tennessee and the broader Southeast. We value TVA’s role in shaping the region’s energy future and in supporting economic development and advanced energy innovation. Our organization has engaged constructively with TVA through forums such as the Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) Working Group and Valley Vision, offering recommendations on integrated resource planning, advanced energy deployment and public-private partnership strategies.

 “A fully functioning board can provide stable governance and leadership, helping TVA continue its mission to deliver reliable, affordable, and increasingly cleaner energy while fostering economic growth throughout the Valley. We look forward to continuing to work collaboratively with TVA leadership, its board, and stakeholders to ensure policy and planning decisions reflect the needs of Tennessee’s advanced energy industry.”

Movers and Shakers

UTMC People Officer: The University of Tennessee Medical Center (UTMC) appointed Chandra D. Alston as senior vice president and chief people officer on Dec. 1. Alston joined UTMC after more than two decades of service at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center in Memphis, where she most recently served as vice chancellor for human resources.

Alston’s background also includes serving as associate vice chancellor for HR, interim director of HR and assistant dean for finance and administration. Her experience is expected to help her guide UTMC’s people strategy during growth, transformation and increasing workforce demands.

“Chandra is an energetic, visionary leader whose strategic insight and deep commitment to organizational excellence make her the ideal person to serve as our inaugural chief people officer,” Dr. Keith Gray, president and CEO of UTMC, said in a release. “Her passion for building strong teams, enhancing the employee experience and developing leaders will strengthen every level of our organization and support our continued mission to serve through healing, education and discovery.”

Alston holds a doctorate of education in higher education leadership from the University of Memphis, an MBA from Union University and a bachelor of science from the University of Tennessee at Martin.

Announcements and Openings

Solis Mammography, the nation’s largest independent provider of specialized breast-health services, announced in a news release that it has acquired the Knoxville Comprehensive Breast Center. The addition marks Solis Mammography’s expansion into East Tennessee. 

Knoxville Comprehensive Breast Center was founded in 1983 by Board-Certified Diagnostic Radiologist Dr. Kamilia F. Kozlowski, becoming the first breast center in the region. It has since grown into one of the largest comprehensive breast-health centers in the country, providing specialized care in a woman-friendly environment for more than 40 years.

Knoxville Comprehensive Breast Center’s reputation for providing comprehensive and compassionate care makes it a natural fit for Solis Mammography’s family of breast-imaging centers, company officials said. Solis Mammography has been dedicated to the early detection of breast cancer for almost four decades, serving millions of women in more than 150 communities across the country. 

“Solis Mammography and Knoxville Comprehensive Breast Center have both been in the business of providing specialized breast-imaging services for decades,” Grant Davies, CEO of Solis Mammography, said. “We look forward to building upon the strong foundation created by Dr. Kozlowski and her team, and to continuing to provide compassionate, personalized care to the women who call this community home.”

Solis Mammography’s acquisition of Knoxville Comprehensive Breast Center expands its footprint into its 24th major market.

“Finding a partner with a shared vision to carry Knoxville Comprehensive Breast Center forward was highly important to me,” Dr. Kozlowski said. “We look forward to collaborating with Solis Mammography to build upon the foundation we’ve created and to continue serving the women of Knoxville and beyond.”

What’s up, Big Frog? Ken Medley and Kierceton Kepes, a Knoxville couple, opened Big Frog Custom T-Shirts & More, a custom-apparel shop, at 10670 Parkside Drive, Suite 105, on Dec. 15.

Medley, who went to UT-Knoxville, worked in fashion and apparel in Manhattan and elsewhere for three decades but recently moved back to Tennessee with his wife. Kepes has a background in coaching, instructing and training athletes. As their children grew up, she designed apparel for school programs, church groups and youth sports teams.

Recognitions and designations

Two new fellows at UT: Hua “Kevin” Bai, a professor in the Center for Ultra-Wide-Area Resilient Electric Energy Transmission Networks in the Tickle College of Engineering, and Sheng Dai, a chemistry professor who holds a joint faculty appointment between Oak Ridge National Laboratory and UT-Knoxville, have been elected as National Academy of Inventors Fellows.

NAI Fellowship is the highest professional distinction awarded solely to inventors. The 2025 cohort includes 169 U.S. distinguished academic and institutional inventors representing 127 universities, government agencies and research institutions across 40 states.

Bai’s research focuses on electrical vehicle-related power electronics, particularly on wide-bandgap semiconductor-enabled power modules, battery chargers, DC-DC converters, motor drive inverters, battery management systems and second-life batteries. Over the past two decades, his research group has been sponsored by various automotive companies to renovate and innovate onboard electronics.

Dai’s research focuses on developing advanced materials for energy-related applications. He studies ionic liquids and porous materials to learn how they can be used for separating different substances, storing energy and speeding up chemical reactions. Dai is also developing ways to turn plant-based carbon into graphite, which can be used for storing energy. 

Top Surgery Center: Knoxville Orthopaedic Surgery Center (KOSC) has been recognized as a 2025 Leapfrog Top Ambulatory Surgery Center (ASC) for the fifth consecutive year for practicing the highest patient-safety standards. The facility is one of only 37 surgery centers nationwide to receive the competitive award and the only one recognized in the Knoxville area.

The honor is presented by The Leapfrog Group, a national nonprofit watchdog organization known for setting rigorous standards for healthcare safety and quality.

“We are honored to receive this recognition, which reflects our team’s unwavering dedication to patient care,” Dr. Douglas N. Calhoun, hand surgeon and medical director of KOSC, said in a news release. “At KOSC, we remain committed to delivering quality, compassionate care for every patient to help East Tennesseans get back to the things they love.”

Ambulatory surgery centers are measured against Leapfrog’s standards in multiple categories, including staffing and patient volume, infection rates, practices for safer surgery and error prevention.

“KOSC has shown exceptional dedication to delivering safe, high-quality care,” said Leah Binder, president and CEO of The Leapfrog Group.

More Medical Designations: South College has eight faculty members who have earned the title of Fellow of the American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology (AANA), an indicator of a commitment to excellence and leadership in the field. 

To be recognized by the FAANA designation, one must be credentialed as a certified registered nurse anesthetist for a minimum of 10 consecutive years, be an AANA member for at least 10 years, and have a minimum of 10 years of full-time professional experience as a practitioner of anesthesiology, an educator/program director, or a facility or business leader. Just 1.5 percent of AANA members earn the designation of fellow.

“The fact that we have eight fellows at South College is a testament to both our commitment to education and the dedication of our faculty and staff to achieve such a distinction within their profession,” South College Chancellor Steve South said in a news release. “A fellow is a recognized leader in the field of nurse anesthesiology, and we applaud all of them.”