Latest news with #Shoney's
Business Insider
12 hours ago
- General
- Business Insider
I moved 22 hours away to start a new job. A couple I met by chance took me in, and now they're like family to me.
When thinking about family, whether they are distant relatives or close loved ones, we rarely would consider outsiders, let alone strangers. But that hasn't been my experience. While it may sound like a lot of work, making new genuine connections can be easy; sometimes it's as simple as finding a common interest with a person. As random as it might sound, that's exactly how I was able to meet a lovely couple at a cable store in Nebraska. For someone who had just moved 1,500 miles away from my hometown of Virginia to work as a journalist for the local news station, the last thing I ever expected I'd do is talk to strangers. But in retrospect, everyone was a stranger, including my new coworkers. Leaving my family was harder than I expected After a 22-hour drive from Virginia Beach to Kearney, my parents and I had finally made it to our destination, and all that I could think about the entire way, as we reached each city limit sign was "What have I done?" My parents were about to drop me off in the middle of nowhere. "Why aren't they stopping me?" I thought as we got closer. It was bittersweet — celebrating a huge accomplishment, stepping into my career, all while getting emotional at each restaurant during the road trip. It wasn't until then that I realized the importance of spending time with family. The smallest things made me cry: watching my dad go up to the breakfast buffet at Shoney's for seconds and thirds, and seeing my mom ask for French vanilla coffee creamer. I contemplated telling them just to take me back home, but I had to commit to my decision. We worked together to get me settled in my new town Picking up my keys from the apartment leasing office seemed to be the only thing that could cheer me up — sure, I was sad, but who wouldn't feel accomplished moving out of their parents' house? They were set to fly back home that following Monday, so helping me get settled was our main goal for the next few days. Everywhere we went, it felt as though we stood out as a Black family in Kearney. But like most talkative dads, mine didn't care, and he'd have small talk about sports with random people to get a feel of the environment. Setting up my cable service was a priority. Little did I know, it would be a turning point for me. As we were choosing cable plans, my dad started chatting with a white couple who were also setting up their services. They began telling us the ins and outs of living there — helpful information that I needed to know. A few people shared insights with me on the area, but to hear it from actual residents made a huge difference. As a Black woman in her early 20s moving to a strange place, the couple made me feel welcome. They were aware that I relocated for work and shared that their daughter had also just moved for college, so we had something in common. Assuming that the connection was just a one-off situation where I'd never hear from them again, they proved me wrong. My mom and the man's wife became Facebook friends, which made me even more comfortable with the idea of reaching out. After all, the connection was completely normal, just two mothers posting about how much they love their kids. Eventually, our relationship blossomed After months of living in Kearney, finally accepting that I needed a wholesome bond to make me feel at home, I decided to take the couple up on an offer to go to church together. And there I was on a Sunday morning with people I met at a cable store. Was I nervous? Of course. But about 20 minutes into the service, it hit me that there are genuinely good people in the world. So when they invited me out for brunch afterwards, there was no hesitation in my mind — I even rode with them to the restaurant. On the ride, they shared more details about the area, helping me to become more acquainted with my environment. They made me feel comfortable, and at home, something I needed at the time. Since moving back to Virginia, our relationship has been limited to Facebook updates, but at least I know that I will always have family in Nebraska.
Yahoo
14-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Where are the best places to work in Tennessee? These 7 midsized companies ranked best according to Forbes
Forbes and SStatista have once again teamed up to assemble a list of top employers. Forbes surveyed around 217,000 employees working at companies within the U.S. to compile a list of the best employers. The survey respondents were asked about salary, work environment, training programs and opportunities to advance, according to Forbes. The survey results were combined with the previous year's data to create a list of the 498 best midsized employers. A "midsized employer" is defined as having between 1,000 and 5,000 employees, according to Forbes. This year, seven Tennessee employers made the list. Here's which midsized companies are among the best. The University of Tennessee clinched a top spot in Forbes Best Midsized Employers list, coming in at No. 14. On the list, Rocky Top was only bested by two other educational institutions: Western Carolina University and California State University, Sacramento. The University of Tennessee Knoxville employs 2,213 faculty and 5,897 staff members, according to the university's human resources data. The Maury Regional Medical Center is located in Middle Tennessee in Columbia. This year, the medical center is ranked at the No. 31 spot for best-midsized employers. In the Health and Social Services category exclusively, Maury Regional ranked exceptionally well at No. 8. The medical centers and health companies that were ranked high include the Alzheimer's Association and Shriners Hospitals for Children. Shoney's is an all-American restaurant chain with locations in 16 states. It is headquartered in Nashville. Shoney's is a veteran member of the Forbes Best Midsized Employers list. The restaurant has made an appearance in the last several years, appearing both in 2023 and 2024. That being said, Shoney's ranking has increased dramatically. In 2023, the restaurant sat at No. 386, and in 2024, it ranked at No. 151. Another veteran member of this best employers list is Dollywood, located in Pigeon Forge. In 2025, the theme park is ranked No. 142. Though there are many others in the travel and leisure category on the 2025 Forbes list, few are resorts and none that match Dollywood's caliber. The theme park employs around 4,000 associates and has been consistently ranked well as an employer. Kirkland's, a Brentwood-based retailer, ranked at No. 188. The home décor retailer has become a large chain, with 344 stores in 35 states. The company was founded in 1966 and today employs more than 4,000 people, according to Kirkland's website. The City of Knoxville is once again on the Forbes Best Midsized Employers list, ranked at No. 253. Knoxville also made the list in 2024, coming in at No. 369. Knoxville was not the only city to make the Forbes list this year, however, it was the only city from Tennessee to be represented in this fashion. Other cities in the "government services" classification to appear on the list include the City of Durham in North Carolina and the City of Plano, Texas. Covenant Transportation is the lowest-ranking Tennessee company, but it is still more than 100 places from the bottom of Forbes' list. It ranked as No. 344 on the Forbes list. Covenant Transportation is a trucking and logistics company based out of Chattanooga. The company employs around 4,500 people, according to Forbes. Covenant Transportation was also named a top midsized employer in 2024. This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: What's the best place to work in Tennessee? Forbes ranked these spots
