by Hunter Patterson | Feb 15, 2012 | News Slider
While hospitality is one of the Volunteer State’s most notable traits, Colin Reed says Tennessee’s tourism industry has more opportunity than ever to grow. And his audience had a vested interest in increasing tourism. The Nashville Business Breakfast, which was held at Lipscomb University and co-sponsored by the Nashville Business Journal, was attended by professionals in fields from media to politics and everywhere in between. Reed, the CEO of Gaylord Entertainment, said that though Tennessee’s tourism industry is valued at over $14 billion, the state has never attracted international tourists. While Mayor Karl Dean highlighted the uniqueness of the city’s airport, with country music artists welcoming you to Nashville, Reed said that international travelers couldn’t get directly into the city. Currently, those traveling from abroad must have a very hectic itinerary. Reed compared the local airport, BNA, to the airport in Denver, where Gaylord is building a resort and convention center. On an average day, Denver has 15 international flights. Nashville only has two – Cancun during the spring and summer and year-round flights to Toronto Reed also announced to the crowd that the 2011 year was the most successful one in the Opryland Hotel’s history. The hotel made $291.8 million last year, just one year after the flood that destroyed much of the property around the hotel. Gaylord’s plan to “attract and expand leisure based business” began earlier this year when the company announced the construction of a new theme park. Reed says the park is expected to get 500,000 visitors annually. By the third year, it is expected to generate an output of $66 million. Reed also said...
by Crystal Davis | Feb 14, 2012 | News Slider
Kelsea Ballerini isn’t taking the advantages of living in Music City for granted. At the age of 13, Kelsea started writing songs. She always loved music, she said, and figuring out itwas her true passion was “just the cherry on top.” Kelsea, a freshman who originally grew up in Knoxville, decided to move to Nashville to pursue singing and songwriting. Kelsea, currently undecided on a major, is still figuring out what to study at Lipscomb. Though majoring in music is not out of the question, she’s not focused on studying it right now since she’s already successful on her own. Last year, Kelsea played a show with country artist Emily West, whose song with Keith Urban, “Blue Sky,” recently hit the top 10 list. Kelsea also had a song on hold for Beyonce’s new record, and a song she co-wrote was featured on Nickelodeon’s hit show “Victorious.” Her music is, by her own definition, “country bluesy poppy soul.” Kelsea is an open book. She tries to be “as genuine as I can about whatever it is that inspired me to write,” she said. Kelsea said she doesn’t feel the need to “sugar coat things or beat around the bush.” She said she thinks people value writing that shows who the artist truly is. Kelsea said she would love to write with Hillary Lindsey of Lady Antebellum. Kelly Clarkson, Bruno Mars and John Mayer top the list of who she would most love to sing with. Kelsea said her most memorable moment was meeting of a fan who absolutely adored her. At an airport in Chicago, a young girl approached her to get an autograph. At...
by Emily Snell | Feb 13, 2012 | News Slider
Linda Peek Schacht, executive director of Lipscomb University’s Nelson and Sue Andrews Institute for Civic Leadership, has been named the Nashville Business Journal’s 2012 Woman of Influence “Trailblazer.” As one of 30 Woman of Influence honorees, and one of three in the “Trailblazer” category, Schacht was honored at a luncheon today and will be profiled in the Friday edition of the Nashville Business Journal. She was selected as the “Trailblazer” winner over Beth DeBauche, commissioner with the Ohio Valley Conference and Lois Riggins-Ezzell, executive director of the Tennessee State Museum. Schacht is the founding executive director of the Andrews Institute for Civic Leadership (civicleadership.lipscomb.edu), established in 2010 to continue long-time Nashville businessman Nelson Andrews’ legacy of collaborative leadership through its academic programs, community engagement and research. Soon after the institute was created, Schacht oversaw the establishment of its new master’s degree in civic leadership, one of only two in the United States, now enrolling 23 students from business, nonprofits and government in its inaugural class and utilizing the institute’s state-of-the-art facility which opened June 2. An ongoing signature program of the institute is to develop informed citizens to lead the public conversation on community issues and public policy. In 2011, leaders from the 10-county Middle Tennessee region focused on transit in the first citizen leadership academy, produced in partnership with the Transit Alliance of Middle Tennessee and the regional caucus of mayors. In its short one-year history, Schacht has lead the institute to bring together state and regional business, nonprofit, and government leaders to collaborate on aging, the challenges of digital communication, transit, Nashville’s strength as a multicultural city...
by Hunter Patterson | Feb 11, 2012 | News Slider, Sports
NASHVILLE (Feb. 11, 2012) – The Bison bench may have been one man short on Saturday, but that did not stop the team from scoring 99 points in their overtime victory over Stetson. Lipscomb outscored the Hatters 25-17 in overtime to improve their conference record to 7-6. The Bison’s overall record is now 12-13. This was the first game since senior guard Jordan Burgason was suspended after he violated team rules. The team shot 3-of-15 from the 3-point line on Saturday. The 20 percent shooting performance is far worse than the Bison’s season-long percentage of 38.4 percent. Deonte Alexander, the team’s leading scorer versus Stetson (27), made two of the 3-pointers. The nine points that were accounted for from three is a season-low for the team. The second lowest total is 15 when the Bisons shot 5-24 from three against Austin Peay State and 5-13 versus North Florida. However, the team’s 99 points scored against Stetson is the second highest total recorded all season. The first was also against Stetson, a game the Bisons won 104-103. Both games were decided in overtime. Lipscomb continues its road trip Monday night against Florida Gulf Coast in Ft. Myers, Fla, at 6 p.m. central. The Lipscomb Sports Network presented by Jackson will carry the action on 102.5 The...
by Hunter Patterson | Feb 10, 2012 | News Slider, Sports
NASHVILLE (Feb. 10, 2012) – Senior guard Jordan Burgason has been dismissed from the men’s basketball team for violating team rules, Lipscomb Athletic Director Philip Hutcheson announced today. The violation has also led to his dismissal from the university. “I love Jordan and wish him nothing but the absolute best,” said Hutcheson. “But he broke university rules that he knew he was breaking. We had clearly advised him, and he was aware of the consequences of making a bad decision.” A 6-foot-3 guard from Ames, Iowa, Burgason owns Lipscomb’s NCAA-era record for three-pointers with 282. This season, Burgason averaged 16.4 points and made 71 of 135 three-point shots for a 52.6 percent shooting average, making him third in the nation in this category. He led the Bison in three-point shooting, having made nine three-pointers in games against Iowa State and ETSU this season. Burgason finished with 1,132 career points and ranked No. 35 on Lipscomb’s all-time scoring list. Burgason was named the preseason No. 24 shooter in the nation by CBSSports.com. “I want to thank Lipscomb for the unbelievable opportunity that it has given me,” said Burgason. “The whole university has showed so much grace to me. But despite that, my actions have not shown a respect for the university and its policies, and for that I am sorry. I’ll never forget the memories that I’ve made here. Thank you for the love and support that everyone has shown throughout my time here. You will always be family to me.” Burgason was suspended earlier in the season for conduct violations and missed the first two weeks of the regular season schedule. When Burgason rejoined...
