businessbriefs
• Premier Surgical Associates announces the appointment of Timothy D. Dykema, MHSA, as chief executive officer. With more than two decades of experience in healthcare leadership, Dykema “has consistently inspired a wide range of stakeholders — including physicians, medical groups, health systems, C-suite executives, directors, managers and frontline staff — by guiding organizations through transformative change,” a press release stated.
• United Way of Greater Knoxville recently selected Chrystal Armstrong Brown as president and chief executive officer following a committee-led, national search to fill the position. Armstrong Brown had served as the organization’s interim CEO since November 2024, adding those duties to the existing role of chief impact officer, which she’s held since joining UWGK in April 2023.
• Tennessee REALTORS has announced Lisa Askew has been awarded the Presidential Award in recognition of her efforts assisting victims of Hurricane Helene in East Tennessee.
According to a press release, Askew quickly mobilized resources and provided direct aid to those most in need. Before debris was cleared and roadways were restored, she was on her ATV navigating the devastation to make sure her community was cared for. Her leadership and compassion exemplify the REALTOR spirit of service and the association’s mission to support communities beyond real estate transactions.
• Priority Ambulance announces 10 healthcare professionals from across its family of companies have been selected to receive the prestigious American Ambulance Association Stars of Life award, one of the highest honors in the EMS industry.
The following personnel are recognized for their contributions to emergency medical services: Anthony Arrigo—Kunkel Ambulance; Andre Joel Bower, LifeCare Medical Transports; Larry Christian, Seals Ambulance; Jason Cooke, Guardian Ambulance; Alex Gossett, Puckett EMS; Carol Harper, Frontier Ambulance; Connor Holt, Shoals Ambulance; Daniel Norfleet, First Call Ambulance; Thomas Elliot Owen, Magnolia Ambulance; and Daniel Rooney, Maricopa Ambulance.
• University of Tennessee Medical Center recently was named the nation’s top employer for company culture in Forbes’ inaugural ranking of America’s Best Employers for Company Culture 2025. The list, compiled in partnership with Statista, highlights organizations setting the standard for workplace culture across the country. The rankings are available on the Forbes website.
The list is based on an independent survey of more than 218,000 U.S. employees working at companies with at least 1,000 employees. Evaluations considered both personal and public perceptions, as well as company culture-related key performance indicators such as fairness, acceptance and opportunity.
