Apex Bank buys Riverview Tower

Dave Miller

Dave Miller is smart, dynamic and on the move. We recently reported that he joined Apex Bank as president/ CEO. Well, this week we learned that Apex Bank has bought Riverview Tower. (Oldtimers call it the C.H. Bank, as in Jake and C.H. Butcher.) The purchase price was $44.17 million.

When he installs the Apex sign atop the building, it will make Dave Miller one of few who have walked on top of both tall buildings. He was CEO of the Knoxville region of First Tennessee when it rebranded as First Horizon.

Here’s how Dave puts it: “Big News for Downtown. We’re thrilled to share some exciting news: we’ve acquired Riverview Tower at 900 S. Gay Street in Knoxville! We’re proud to bring this landmark 24-story building back to local ownership for the first time in decades. This investment reflects our confidence in Knoxville’s continued growth and our commitment to this community and the people we serve.”

Apex Bank, founded in 1931, is a top-performing community bank. Since Matt Daniels purchased the institution in 2008, it has grown from $157 million to $1.4 billion in assets, operating 22 retail locations and a Knoxville-based mortgage servicing center with over 220 team members. With the acquisition of Riverview Tower, the bank’s headquarters will be in Knoxville.

The sale was handled by SVN | Wood Properties, engaged by owner Hertz Knoxville One LLC, a subsidiary of Hertz Investment Group. Brought to market on December 4, 2025, without a listing price, the brokers found a buyer and took the property from list to close in four months.

The sale was led by George Brown and Taylor Thompson of SVN | Wood Properties, who
directed the marketing efforts, curated buyer outreach, and managed a competitive bid process. Brown said the company will continue as leasing agents for Apex.

Come and see Rosarita’s Mexican Cantina

Keith Foster

Keith Foster, community developer and president of Abundant Capital Group, has announced a grand opening for Rosarita’s Mexican Cantina at 10 a.m. Tuesday, April 14, 2026, at 2816 E. Magnolia Ave., Knoxville.

“This is more than a restaurant opening. It is an investment in the Magnolia Corridor and a continued commitment to creating spaces that bring people together and strengthen East Knoxville,” said Foster. “Proud to be part of this effort with Blake Plavis, Kimberly Black, Raul Mares, Jarion Mares, Ramon Mares, Juan Mares and Miguel Hernandez.

“We would love for the community, local businesses and city leaders to join us for this special day.”

Foster is a real estate developer and general contractor focused on historically underserved and marginalized communities. As president of Abundant Capital Group, he leads and structures projects centered on affordable housing, urban redevelopment and public-private partnerships. He serves on the board of Make-A-Wish Foundation, Turn Up Knox! And is an active member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc.

Floyd recognized for communications leadership

Jeremy Floyd

Jeremy Floyd, senior vice president for communications for Covenant Health, has received a second consecutive national recognition for his leadership in healthcare communications and marketing.

Floyd was named to Becker’s Hospital Review’s list of Hospital and Health System Chief Communication Officers to Know, a national recognition highlighting leaders shaping how their organizations are viewed and experienced. This honor builds on prior national and regional recognition for Floyd’s work in advancing brand strategy, communications and consumer engagement in healthcare.

Floyd said since coming to Covenant Health in 2022, he has focused his team on rebuilding the brand to reflect the customer’s journey, by asking not “what produce do we want to sell” but instead, “what does this customer actually need.”

He added: “The question that changed things for us was simple: we had spent years thinking about what we wanted to say. Had we ever seriously asked what the customer wanted to hear?

“That shift, from organizational voice to customer voice, is not a campaign. It is a transformation.”

Keith Stump retires; Chris Halcomb is GIO of mapping service

Chris Halcomb has been appointed executive director and geographic information officer (GIO) of KGIS – the interactive mapping service for Knoxville, Knox County and KUB. He replaces Keith Stump, who retired in January 2026 after 37 years.

Halcomb, 54, has worked with KGIS since 2004, most recently as the database administrator. He holds a bachelor’s degree in geography from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. The promotion was made by the KGIS policy board, which consists of the city mayor, the county mayor and the chief executive officer of KUB. If you’re not yet familiar with KGIS, check it out here. It’s a haven for information nerds.

UT, ORNL nab top scientist

Deep Jariwala

Deep Jariwala, a nationally recognized leader in quantum materials and next-generation electronic devices, will join the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, and Oak Ridge National Laboratory as the UT-ORNL governor’s chair for quantum devices.

UT System President Randy Boyd calls Jariwala “one of the top emerging leaders in quantum materials and advanced electronics,” adding, “Recruiting him to Tennessee reflects the strength of the UT-Oak Ridge partnership and our shared commitment to leading in technologies that will define the future economy.”

Jariwala will hold a joint appointment between UT and ORNL, with his academic home in the Tickle College of Engineering. He joins from the University of Pennsylvania, where he is an associate professor and a Distinguished Scholar in electrical and systems engineering and materials science and engineering. Jariwala will officially join UT and ORNL in January 2027 and is already connecting with researchers at both institutions, with visits planned in the coming months.

Quote: “To write the truth as I see it; to defend the weak against the strong; to fight for justice; and to seek, as best I can, to bring healing perspectives to bear on the terrible hates and fears of mankind…” – I.F. Stone, investigative reporter who published his own newsletter.

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