Hostess Brands Inc. — a Charlotte Avenue store for which ranks among West Nashville’s more well-recognized businesses — is filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.

The Nashville store will not be affected, according to media reports.

Company officials are citing troubles with pension and medical benefits obligations and increased competition.

Hostess Brands is the maker of Twinkies and Wonder Bread, among other baked products.

Located at 4111 Charlotte Ave., the Nashville Hostess serves as a wholesale bakery.

Hostess Brands is based in Irving, Texas, and operates in 49 states, with 36 regional bakeries including the Wonder bakery at 400 Monroe Ave. in Memphis and a Knoxville plant.
 

Christian author and speaker Lisa Harper has joined the team at Live Event Management, a division of Thomas Nelson, as ministry director. Harper has been a feature of Live Event's Women of Faith tour.

“As an effort to continue our spiritual growth within Live Events,” states Carol Nygren, Executive Vice President and Managing Director of Live Event Management, “we wanted Lisa to join our team to incorporate a group dynamic that focused on making the Gospel even more relevant to our work and relational environment.  Lisa was the missing piece in our puzzle and we are happy to have her join the family.”

Two of Iasis Healthcare's 18 hospitals will soon begin testing a high-speed data network developed by Texas-based CareView Communications that promises to improve the quality and efficiency of bedside care while giving patients more communication and entertainment options. If deemed successful after six month, Careview's system — which runs on existing cable TV infrastructure — will be rolled out across Iasis' seven-state footprint.

Hospital chain Vanguard Health Systems is cutting almost 120 positions at its San Antonio division, saying the wobbly local economy and cuts by state and federal lawmakers to Medicare and Medicaid reimbursements are forcing its hand. The five-hospital Baptist Health System accounted for one in every six Vanguard revenue dollars in 2010.

None of the job cuts involved employees who provide care at the bedside, said Patti Tanner, a Baptist spokeswoman. The cuts leave the system with about 6,300 full-time equivalent positions, Tanner said.

SEE ALSO: On Vanguard's operational focus

Gaylord Hotels has announced a new strategic partnership with KODAK Event Imaging Solutions that will enable Gaylord hotel guests — as company officials glowingly note — "to depart with 'KODAK Moments' to last a lifetime."

Under the partnership, KODAK now has exclusive rights to photograph guests at Gaylord Hotels in Nashville; National Harbor, Md.; Kissimmee, Fla.; and Grapevine, Texas.

Roving photographers at the hotels will capture special moments of guests in pictures, compliments of Gaylord Hotels and KODAK Event Imaging Solutions. Guests can then purchase the photo prints and gifts as special keepsakes of their stay. 

In addition, special photo opportunities will be offered exclusively to Hotel Holiday Package participants. 

“Gaylord Hotels are known as the places to celebrate life’s special occasions,” said Rich Maradik, CMO of Gaylord Hotels. “Over the past few years, we have engaged in a few, selective partnerships with an eye toward enhancing those experiences to make them even more meaningful for our guests. KODAK Event Imaging Solutions is a very exciting extension of the Gaylord Hotel experience.” 

Community Health Systems earlier this month sold for $900,000 its stake in Cleveland Regional Medical Center outside Houston to Louisville-based New Directions Health Systems. The move — disclosed in the company's latest quarterly report — leaves CHS with 18 hospitals in Texas. Cleveland Regional, which is home to 107 beds and about 270 employees, has about $230 million in revenue but lost more than $12 million in its fiscal 2010.

New Directions also bought a shuttered hospital in Murfreesboro, Ark., last year.