Author Archive
VPI Client- The Campus Special
Congratulations to VPI Client, The Campus Special featured in Inc. Magazine. The company was founded in 2005 by Chau Nguyen and Joe Jacobs. Chau and Joe are two great entreprenurs that we are fortunate to support as they grow their business.
Gatlinburg, Tennessee Investment Opportunity
VPI has been retained by the development and ownership group of Big Elk Resort to
procure an equity partner for a development opportunity in Gatlinburg, TN. The 11.4
acre parcel, with Parkway frontage cannot be replicated in the market. Due to the vast
number of tourists that visit The Great Smokey Mountains National Park (9.5 Million
annually), truly unique site characteristics and site specific entitlements, no similar
opportunity exists anywhere else in the U.S.
The Big Elk Resort and Retail center is located literally at the gateway to Gatlinburg,
TN, across the street from the Gatlinburg welcome center. The site is comprised of 11.4
acres with 1,200 lineal feet of frontage on both the Parkway, and The Little Pigeon
River. Gatlinburg, Tennessee is nestled at the base of the Smokey Mountain National
Park which attracts 9,500,000 visitors per annum. The Smokey Mountains are the 12th
most visited attraction in the world, ranking behind The Great Wall of China.
The development of this site is the last opportunity that exists in the Gatlinburg market
to assemble a large tract for a multi-use project. In addition, most of the land in the
Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge market is developed or occupied under long term ground
leases. This property is comprised of 9.6 acres Fee Simple land, and a very attractive
ground lease for the 1.8 acre tract that comprises the assembled parcel.
VPI Hosts Rolex 24 Hour Race Gathering at Latitude 35
Please join VPI Business Advisors and Latitude 35 (located in Market Square) in the lower level of the restaurant. We will watch the start of this year’s 24 Hour on th 88′ big screen. Lunch and drinks can be ordered from the great menu that L35 offers. Plan on arriving at 1 PM. Race coverage starts on The Speed Channel at 2 PM. This is an open event and open to anyone that wants to hang out with a bunch of crazed car nuts
VPI CEO David Hinkle appointed to Fairview Technology Board
David Hinkle, CEO of VPI Business Advisors, has been appointed to the Advisory Board for The Fairview Technology Center. "Being appointed to Fairview's Advisory Board affords me the opportunity to contribute to Entrepreneurs pursuing their passion in launching a new business", stated Hinkle. To learn more about Fairview, please visit http://www.knoxdevelopment.org/BusinessIncubator.aspx.
Great news from VPI Client, Campus Special- Congratulations!
The Campus Special Named to the Inc. 5000 List of Fastest Growing Companies in America
8/24/10 – The Campus Special has been named to the Inc. 5000 List of Fastest Growing Companies in America. After 5 consecutive years of double digit growth, The Campus Special makes its debut on the list at #1390.
“We are honored to be included on the prestigious list as one of the Inc. 5000 Fastest Growing Companies in America," says Chau Nguyen, Co-Founder of The Campus Special. “As a start-up, our original goal was to save college students money. We worked hard to provide students with a targeted coupon book with discounts on every day needs. When the recession hit, we saw it as an opportunity to leverage the economy and help our advertisers adapt their marketing strategy, while helping students survive tough times. Today The Campus Special publishes at 100 college campuses and is one of the most recognizable publications within the 18-24 year old demographic. I’d like to thank all of our employees, clients, and students for their continued support. We are committed to serving as a bridge between college students and local businesses.”
“Our goal in 2011 is to break into the Inc. 500 list and we have a few projects underway to get us there. This fall, The Campus Special launched an online Food Court which allows students to order food online from restaurants in their college towns. We’ve created a marketplace where local restaurant owners can market to students via the web and students can order from the convenience of their computer or mobile device. 2,000 restaurants have already signed up for the service and students have already started ordering as Fall semester kicks off.”
The Inc. 5000 is ranked according to percentage revenue growth from 2006 through 2009. To qualify, companies must have been founded and generating revenue by the first week of 2006, and therefore able to show four full calendar years of sales. Additionally, they have to be U.S.-based, privately held, for profit, and independent — not subsidiaries or divisions of other companies — as of December 31, 2009. Notable alumni include Intuit, Zappos, Under Armour, Microsoft, Jamba Juice, Timberland, Visa, Clif Bar, Patagonia, Oracle, and scores of other powerhouses.
The Campus Special is the nation's largest distributor of coupons on college campuses and a virtual Food Court where students can order food online. We work with 100 college campuses reaching 4 million students in 38 states and servicing over 7,000 clients. Our award winning internship program has helped over 1,500 college students gain hands on experience in marketing/sales. Visit us on the web at www.CampusSpecial.com
The Campus Special Contact: Chau Nguyen, Co-Founder 800-365-8520 x 858 Chau@CampusSpecial.com