Blood Assurance opens new office in Fort Oglethorpe
Blood Assurance officially opened its new donation center at 3811 Battlefield Parkway in Fort Oglethorpe on Wednesday.
The facility, in the Boynton Ridge Plaza, is designed to give individuals from Northwest Georgia an easier opportunity to donate blood, plasma, platelets and double red blood cells. The 2,000-square-foot stand-alone building features three donor screening rooms, six donor beds and a refreshment area.
"We are ecstatic to be opening a state-of-the-art center in Fort O," Blood Assurance CEO J.B. Gaskins said in a news release. "Our job is to save lives, and with this new, strategic location, it allows us to build on that in the Peach State."
The building replaces Blood Assurance's smaller donation center on Lafayette Road and is conveniently adjacent to a Publix supermarket. Blood Assurance has been operating in the Fort Oglethorpe community for nearly 50 years. It was the first location outside of Chattanooga where the company opened a donation center.
United Way to honor top nonprofit leaders
United Way of Greater Chattanooga is seeking nominations for Chattanooga's annual nonprofit Celebrate Awards to recognize organizations and individuals making a difference in the local community.
United Way is hosting an elevated evening of celebration May 9 at Common House Chattanooga, sponsored by Southern Champion Tray. The gathering was previously a daytime event.
United Way will give awards in five categories: the nonprofit organization of the year, the nonprofit leader of the year, an innovation in action award, the volunteer of the year and a new award for equity, diversity and inclusion. The newest honor will highlight an organization making significant and intentional strides in advancing equity in our community.
Nominations will close March 21. People are invited to submit nominations for the awards to unitedwaycha.org/celebrate.
UTC forum highlights freight broker training
The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Center for Professional Education will host a communitywide informational open house on its 13-week freight broker training program from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. March 23 at the James R. Mapp Building, 311 ML King Blvd.
UTC and 15 Chattanooga area logistics companies are conducting the forum to provide information for those interested in starting or accelerating a freight broker career in Chattanooga.
UTC's Freight Broker Professional Program is designed to train students in logistics, communication and sales over 13 weeks. Eligible students may then access tuition reimbursement, sign-on bonuses and job opportunities through employer partners, including Avenger Logistics, Axle Logistics, BlueGrace Logistics, FitzMark, Infinity Logistics Group, KCH Transportation, LYNC Logistics, MaxTrans Logistics, Network Transport, Shah Logistics, Steam Logistics, Taimen Transport, Tranco Global, Trident Transport and U.S. Xpress.
"UTC's freight broker program is positioning the Chattanooga community to capitalize on the growing local third party logistics career opportunities," Taimen Transport Director of Culture Ryan Pamplin said in a statement. "We are excited to meet the industry's future all-stars at the upcoming open house."
Adidas loses $540 million
Adidas' breakup with the rapper Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, and the inability to sell his popular Yeezy line of shoes helped batter earnings at the end of 2022, leading to a net loss of 513 million euros ($540 million).
The fourth-quarter loss, also attributed to higher supply costs and slumping revenue in China, contrasts with a profit of 213 million euros in the same period a year ago, the German shoe and sportswear maker said Wednesday.
More losses could be ahead as the company forecast a 500 million-euro hit to earnings this year if it decides not to repurpose the remaining Yeezy products it has in stock. The company is predicting a 2023 operating loss of 700 million euros.
Adidas split with Ye in October following the rapper's antisemitic remarks on social media and in interviews, facing pressure along with other brands to end ties. The company is now grappling to find ways to replace its banner Yeezy line, which analysts have said amounted to as much as 15% of its net income.
CEO Bjorn Gulden said in a statement that 2023 would be "a transition year" and "we can then start to build a profitable business again in 2024."
Fourth-quarter net sales were up 1.3% at 5.21 billion euros from the same quarter a year ago, held back by around 600 million euros in lost revenue by the decision to halt the partnership with Ye.
The company also cited a revenue drop in China of about 50% and higher costs for supplies and shipping, which could not be offset by higher prices.
— Compiled by Dave Flessner