by Henry Piarrot

Created on: April 09, 2009   Last Updated: April 11, 2009

Simply Better Than the Rest

"You are not here merely to make a living. You are here to enable the world to live more amply, with greater vision, and with a finer spirit of hope and achievement. You are here to enrich the world. You impoverish yourself if you forget this errand." President Woodrow Wilson

There is little professional doubt that imaginative graphic design is often the deciding dynamic in today's world of business. Through the striking works of talented graphic artists, nearly every innovation since the invention of lithography in the 1790's, has immediately become part of the fabric of our world's many cultures. Still today, newspapers, advertisements, signs and produced images are fashioned and arranged to influence differing economic markets. Fortunately, we in East Tennessee have some of the finest graphic artists anywhere. Certainly, young Denver Stevens of The Thomas Group in Sevierville is one of those creative people.

Denver Thomas Stevens was born on New Year's Day 1981 in Knoxville. The product of a loving, devoted and artistic family, his father Anthony is a professional videographer, while his mother Vickie has been employed by the TVA for as long as her son can remember. Recently, Stevens' younger sister Sarah made him a doting uncle for the very first time.
Denver began learning to play the drums while in the 5th grade. Because of his desire to "simply be better than the rest," upon entering Gibbs High School, he outplayed all upper-classmen and assumed the role of captain of the Drum Corps as a freshman, a position he held each year until his graduation in 1999.
Then, Steven's entered East Tennessee State University to study graphic design and technical writing with a minor in English, leaving the school with a degree in mass communication. Significantly, after spending his freshman year on the drum line at ETSU, he then turned to the guitar, expanding his musical horizons.
After college, Denver was hired by the Bechtel Corporation as a technical writer. Bechtel is a worldwide engineering, construction, and project management company. After 90 days, the company sent him to Las Vegas, where he soon became a graphic designer for them. While in Nevada, Stevens also did free lance work for some of the biggest clubs and hotels before returning to East Tennessee in August 2006.
Upon his return, a friend of a friend introduced Denver to Andrew Byrd, president and founder of The Thomas Group. The premier Sevierville based advertising agency was in the market for a graphic artist. Young, fresh, edgy, yet fundamentally sound, Denver Stevens joined Byrd's outstanding team almost 2 years ago.
The Thomas Group is an experienced full service advertising and marketing agency with abundant resources and extraordinary skill in graphic design and website programming. They also specialize in printing and bulk mailing. The family owned and operated business also develops the Smoky Mountain Coupon Book, which is offered to our area's guests at no cost to them.
It has always been Denver's mindset to use his talents to help make life better for others while continuing to succeed professionally himself. He happily embraces his role with The Thomas Group because Andrew Byrd has long placed a high value on supporting the community that has supported his family. Following Byrd's example, everyone at The Thomas Group understands that Sevier County is not just a marketplace, it is their home. Denver knows their collective service, passion and talent is what makes their company, "simply better than the rest."

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