Business

First Tennessee Operation Hope success story: Atina Labs

NASHVILLE PRIDE — Charles D. Hill was encouraged by his wife to launch a business after he retired from Memphis Light Gas & Water after 20 years. Initially inspired by his mother, Irene Holt, who was an entrepreneur and owned a restaurant, sports bar and a fish market, Hill remembers the key lessons he learned from her: how to read and count money.

Published

7 years ago

April 16, 2019

Oakland Post

By Pride Newsdesk

Charles D. Hill was encouraged by his wife to launch a business after he retired from Memphis Light Gas & Water after 20 years. Initially inspired by his mother, Irene Holt, who was an entrepreneur and owned a restaurant, sports bar and a fish market, Hill remembers the key lessons he learned from her: how to read and count money.

As he began researching small businesses, he located the Operation HOPE Entrepreneurial Training Program, a partnership between Operation HOPE, COGIC Urban Initiatives, and First Tennessee Bank.

“We are very excited about the early success and solid impact of our Entrepreneur Training Program through our partnership with Operation HOPE,” said Steve Swain, manager of Operation HOPE programs for First Tennessee. “We will continue our commitment to meeting the small business entrepreneur training, credit and financial needs by expanding economic empowerment in underserved communities, enhancing dignity through financial education.”

Meeting Operation Hope Financial Counselor, Trudy Morrison, on the first day of class, Hill knew he was in for an exciting and fun challenge. “I learned how to do an elevator pitch, understand my sales strategy, and identify my target market,” he said.

“Drug usage in the U.S. had been on the rise. There is a demand for drug screening and collection businesses,” said Hill, who is a certified Breath Alcohol Technician, Urine Drug Screen Collector and Hair Drug Screener.

“The training program helped me to shape my vision, write a business plan, conduct market research, understand credit and accessing capital,” stated Hill. “The new skills in advertising, accounting, and networking will allow my business to flourish and grow.”

Hill’s goal is for Atina Labs to be a highly visible and reputable firm known as the leader in the substance abuse screening industry in the Mid-South area. He challenges aspiring entrepreneurs to “move past the fear of failure” and encourages them to not let their dreams go without trying. After graduation from the 12-week program in May of 2018, Hill opened the doors to his physical location, Atina Labs in February 2019.

First Tennessee Bank holds free credit score workshops for Financial Literacy Month

In conjunction with its Operation Hope initiatives, First Tennessee Bank will be hosting a free workshop to help Nashvillians improve their credit scores. The workshop will take place Saturday, April 13 from 9:30 am to 12:30 pm, at the Metro Center branch at 2110 Rosa L. Park Blvd.

Interested participants can contact Michael D. Morrow at 615-268-9053 or by email at <michael.morrow@operationhope.org>. Online registration is open at <www.eventbrite.com/o/michael-morrow-15902057619>.

Workshop participants will learn about establishing or improving a credit score, budget techniques to get the most out of a limited income, and strategies for paying off debt and using credit wisely. The free sessions are open to everyone.

First Tennessee’s partnership with Operation HOPE invests in financial education programs that allow individuals and small businesses to create solid foundations, achieve economic dignity and secure their financial futures. 2018 financial literacy impacts included: over 8,000 new clients served across 21 HOPE Inside locations, 1,360 clients still actively enrolled in services, and 84 new small businesses created.

This article originally appeared in the Nashville Pride.

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Oakland Post: Week of March 18 – 24, 2026

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of March 18 – 24, 2026

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Financial Wellness and Mental Health: Managing Money Stress in College 

While everyone’s financial situation is unique, several common sources of stress have the potential to strain your financial health. These include financial and economic uncertainty, existing debts, unexpected expenses, and mental or physical health changes. Financial stress may differ from situation to situation, but understanding the factors contributing to yours may help you begin to craft a plan for your unique circumstances.

Published

3 weeks ago

March 17, 2026

Oakland Post

Sponsored by JPMorganChase

As a college student, managing financial responsibilities can be stressful.

If you’ve found yourself staying up late thinking about your finances or just feeling anxious overall about your financial future, you’re not alone. In one survey, 78% of college students who reported financial stress had negative impacts on their mental health, and 59% considered dropping out. While finances can impact overall stress, taking steps to manage your finances can support your mental, emotional and physical well-being.

When it comes to money, the sources of stress may look different for each student, but identifying the underlying causes and setting goals accordingly may help you feel more confident about your financial future.

Consider these strategies to help improve your financial wellness and reduce stress.

Understand what causes financial stress

2. Determine your financial priorities

Start by reflecting on your financial priorities. For students this often includes paying for school or paying off student loans, studying abroad, saving for spring break, building an emergency fund, paying down credit card debt or buying a car. Name the milestones that are most important to you, and plan accordingly.

3. Create a plan and stick to it

While setting actionable goals starts you on the journey to better financial health, it’s essential to craft a plan to follow through. Identifying and committing to a savings plan may give you a greater sense of control over your finances, which may help reduce your stress. Creating and sticking to a budget allows you to better track where your money is going so you may spend less and save more.

4. Pay down debt

Many students have some form of debt and want to make progress toward reducing their debt obligations. One option is the debt avalanche method, which focuses on paying off your debt with the highest interest rate first, then moving on to the debt with the next-highest interest rate. Another is the debt snowball method, which builds momentum by paying off your smallest debt balance, and then working your way up to the largest amounts.

5. Build your financial resilience

Some financial stress may be inevitable, but building financial resilience may allow you to overcome obstacles more easily. The more you learn about managing your money, for instance, the more prepared you’ll feel if the unexpected happens. Growing your emergency savings also may increase resilience since you’ll be more financially prepared to cover unexpected expenses or pay your living expenses.

6. Seek help and support

Many colleges have resources to help students experiencing financial stress, like financial literacy courses or funds that provide some assistance for students in need. Talk to your admissions counselor or advisor about your concerns, and they can direct you to sources of support. Your school’s counseling center can also be a great resource for mental health assistance if you’re struggling with financial stress.

The bottom line

Financial stress can affect college students’ health and wellbeing, but it doesn’t have to derail your dreams. Setting smart financial goals and developing simple plans to achieve them may help ease your stress. Revisit and adjust your plan as needed to ensure it continues to work for you, and seek additional support on campus as needed to help keep you on track.

 JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. Member FDIC