OCTOBER 2014 Vol 16 | Issue 10 in this ISSUE PAGE Student mentors needed now PAGE Business expo attracts hundreds History offers leadership lessons in October It’s known as one of the bloodiest battles of the Civil War, so what lesson could it possibly provide for today’s business professionals? Learn the answer to that question and more at the Tuesday, Oct 21, Williamson Chamber monthly membership luncheon at the Franklin Marriott Cool Springs, 700 Cool Springs Blvd This unique presentation about the 1864 Battle of Franklin brings together Tim Pierce and Thomas Flagel to tell the story and translate how it teaches management and leadership skills The meeting is being presented by Saint Thomas Health Before taking a position as director of executive programs at Vanderbilt University’s Owen Graduate School of Management, Pierce was an actor in New York City for seven years In his Vanderbilt role and elsewhere, the Nashville resident has developed corporate leadership programs and worked in sales and business development Flagel is an assistant professor Tim Pierce of American history at Columbia State Community College and a current doctoral student in public history at Middle Tennessee State University He is a board member of the Battle of Franklin Trust, the Carter House, the Franklin Battlefield Preservation Commission and Franklin’s Charge As local organizations and residents get ready to observe the 150th anniversary of the Battle of Franklin, Flagel has written and narrated the Peabody-nominated “Sesquicentennial Stories” series, presented on WAKM AM-950 He resides Thomas Flagel in Franklin “Anyone who has ever seen this presentation is simply blown away by what they take away from it,” said Matt Largen, president and chief executive officer of Williamson, Inc., l CONTINUED ON PAGE Raise your business profile at silent auction READ ALL ABOUT WILLIAMSON! livability.com/franklin/tn/magazine Local business products and services will be on the appetizer menu during the cocktail hour of the Williamson, Inc annual celebration on Wednesday, Nov 19, at The Factory at Franklin, 230 Franklin Road A silent auction will provide perusing fun as guests sip drinks and enjoy food bites before the evening dinner gets underway, during which audience members will get a wrap-up of the year in the State of the Chamber YOUR HEALTH OUR PASSION address from President and Chief Executive Officer Matt Largen The keynote speaker for the event will be Robert Guest, editor of one of the most influential news magazines in the world, The Economist Guest oversees the London-based magazine’s coverage in the United States and has written two books In his journalism career he has reported from nearly 70 countries and lived in six – experiences that inform his up-to-date global perspective on business around the world “This is our last signature event of 2014, and it promises to be an elegant, informative evening,” said Chief Operating Officer Cindi Parmenter “We did this as a countywide Chamber for the first time last year as we rolled out our new brand We look forward to having our community and business leaders all together to celebrate our successes in Williamson County and look toward the future We anticipate making it an annual affair.” Chamber member businesses interested in donating items or services for the silent auction should contact Meetings and Events Director Abby Bass at abby@williamsonchamber.com or 615-771-1912 Only 40 or so with a value of $50 or more will be featured, Bass said l CONTINUED ON PAGE Page THE POINT l October 2014 WELCOME new members A Dream Come True Events and Catering P.O Box 92066 Nashville, TN 37209 (615) 259-0848 adctcatering.com Becki Annastas ABCO Roofing Co 3730 Dickerson Pike, Ste 105 Nashville, TN 37207 (615) 868-6944 abcoroofingtn.com Jamie Gill AuthoTrans Merchant Services LLC 1202 Limerick Lane Franklin, TN 37067 (615) 763-3351 authotrans.com Steve Colson Brenda Rivera 405 Carphilly Court Brentwood, TN 37027 (715) 377-2851 Brenda Rivera Cornell Design Group P.O Box 121395 Nashville, TN 37212 (209) 213-2273 cornelldesigngroup.com Patrick Cornell Cost Segregation Services, Inc (CSSI - Tennessee) 1200 Holly Hill Dr Franklin, TN 37064 (615) 478-7449 cssitennessee.com Jennifer Scoble Danielle Revelette Real Estate/ Bob Parks Realty 641 Old Hickory Blvd., Unit 53 Brentwood, TN 37027 (615) 856-3808 daniellereveletterealestate.com Danielle Revelette Davis, Brown & Company PLLC 106 Mission Court, Ste 101A Franklin, TN 37067 (615) 610-1889 cadaviscpas.com Michelle Romano kudos DevDigital LLC 162 Rosa L Parks Blvd., Ste.1 Nashville, TN 37203 (615) 257-1491 devdigital.com Peter Marcum Elmhurst Financial Services 5203 Maryland Way, Ste 210 Brentwood, TN 37027 (615) 376-7878 elmhurstfinancialservices.com Wyatt England Firestone Complete Autocare 7029 Church St E Brentwood, TN 37027 (615) 661-0036 Tim Ruffin FlexKom America P.O Box 84 Fairview, TN 37062 (615) 476-2535 kissmyappgetpaid.com Denise Morrison Franklin Tennessee Rehabilitation Center 1405-A Brookwood Ave Franklin, TN 37064 (615) 599-9162 tn.gov Barbara Bennett FranNet - The Franchise Connection 231 Venture Circle Nashville, TN 37228 (615) 202-0225 FranNet.com/daronoff Dan Aronoff Grease Monkey Creative 1608 Branch St Nashville, TN 37216 (636) 734-8495 greasemonkeycreative.com Meghan Van Leer Guaranteed Rate 1720 General George Patton Dr Brentwood, TN 37027 (615) 800-7820 guaranteedrate.com/DavidZopf David Zopf Haury & Smith Contractors, Inc 7065 Moores Lane, Ste 300 Brentwood, TN 37027 (615) 383-9070 haurysmith.com Reese Smith Kathryn Collins & Co 2308 Foxhaven Dr Franklin, TN 37069 (615) 661-0059 kcollinsco.com Kathryn Collins Legacy Mutual Mortgage 2000 Glen Echo Road, Ste 205 Nashville, TN 37215 (440) 225-5060 legacymutual.com Shawn Kaplan Lithographics, Inc 1835 Air Lane Dr Nashville, TN 37210 (615) 889-1200 lithographicsinc.com/ David Oliphant Morning Pointe of Franklin 1005 Generations Way Franklin, TN 37064 (423) 504-4547 morningpointe.com Amy Clarke Music City Pieworks Cool Springs, LLC DBA Pie Five Pizza 401 B Cool Springs Blvd Ste 220 Franklin, TN 37067 (615) 236-9120 piefivepizza.com Rich Davis Nerium International 701 Thurrock Circle Brentwood, TN 37027 (615) 804-3590 debstephenson.nerium.com Deb Stephenson JOIN THE MEMBER BUSINESSES THAT SUPPORT THE WILLIAMSON CHAMBER CALL US TODAY AT 615-771-1912 Northwestern Mutual 501 Corporate Centre Dr Ste 120 Franklin, TN 37067 (615) 503-2832 nm.com Craig Jarrell Nurse Next Door of Greater Nashville 2550 Meridian Blvd., Ste 200 Franklin, TN 37067 (931) 374-8440 nursenextdoor.com Greg Salkind Office Pride 718 Thompson Lane Ste 108-196 Nashville, TN 37204 (615) 891-2290 officepride.com W Chuck Jones Orangetheory Fitness 3301 Aspen Grove Dr., Ste 107 Franklin, TN 37067 (615) 504-1110 orangetheoryfitness.com Meghan Littlejohn Panera Bread Bakery 2000 Mallory Lane, Ste 110 Franklin, TN 37067 (615) 771-4046 Brian Kimpel Phoenix Packaging Logistics 1117 Harpeth Industrial Court Franklin, TN 37064 (954) 742-4790 phoenixpackage.com Amanda Romano Sanity Assistants 110 A West Main St Waverly, TN 37185 (931) 299-7124 sanityassistants.com Sabrina Nelson Skin ReNew 8119 Isabella Lane, Ste 100 Brentwood, TN 37027 (615) 376-7700 skinrenewclinic.com Ashley Taylor Southern Polished 7018 Church St E Brentwood, TN 37027 (615) 377-4644 southernpolished.com Heath Potter Spitfire Salon Inc 420 Cool Springs Blvd., Ste 100 Franklin, TN 37067 (615) 786-9786 spitfiresalon.com Stacy Gower TAC Treats LLC DBA Baskin Robbins 127 Franklin Road, Ste 110 Brentwood, TN 37027 (615) 377-4798 Tootser Carell Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development 220 French Landing, Ste 4B Nashville, TN 37243 (615) 790-5512 tn.gov Pat Kuhlman Tennessee Home Inventory Services, Inc P.O Box 682561 Franklin, TN 37068 (615) 519-1400 thishelpsu.com John Dillard The Goddard School - Moss Lane 98 Moss Lane Franklin, TN 37064 (615) 538-2410 goddardschool.com The Green Hills Group 4219 Hillsboro Road, Ste 200 Nashville, TN 37215 (615) 485-3882 thegreenhillsgroup.com Jadyn Stevens The Harpeth Room at Loveless Cafe 8400 Tennessee Highway 100 Nashville, TN 37221 (615) 646-9700 lovelesscafe.com Jessica Charlton Thank you to these volunteers for their contributions this month to the Williamson Chamber membership committees lS ALLY MINK, Two Men and a Truck, as an Ambassador for attending the most Chamber meetings and ribbon cuttings lM ICHELLE ALLEN-PARKER, Moore Media, of the Engagement Committee for mentoring the most new members through the orientation process lD IANE ADAMS, Alexander’s Mobility Service, of the Member Relations Committee for excelling in her efforts to reach out to members lS TECK JOHNSON of Healthcare Solutions Team, JANET NORMAN of First Citizens National Bank - Franklin Financial Center and DAN TELFORD of Exodus HR Group from the Development Committee, who tied for bringing in the most new members for the month THE POINT is published as a partnership between the Williamson Chamber and The Tennessean For editorial inquiries, contact Libby Older at libby@williamsonchamber.com For advertising information, contact Lauren Carpenter at lauren@williamsonchamber.com 5005 Meridian Blvd., Suite 150 | Franklin, TN 37067 | 615.771.1912 | www.williamsonchamber.com THE POINT l October 2014 Page Page THE POINT l October 2014 BUSINESS EXPO PUBLIC AFFAIRS WRAPS UP City officials shared news about Brentwood at the September Public Affairs Roundtable, as Mayor Betsy Crossley and City Manager Kirk Bednar joined Chamber Public Affairs Chair Dave Crouch for the question-andanswer discussion The 2014 roundtable sessions will wrap up on Monday, Oct 27, when the discussion will focus on issues voters will be asked to decide in the general election coming up on Tuesday, Nov All community members are invited to attend the free 7:15 a.m roundtable The meeting is broadcast live on WC-TV, the county’s educational and government channel, and is available on-demand from the county website, williamsoncounty-tn.gov YOUNG PROFESSIONALS LOOK AHEAD The Williamson Chamber Young Professionals will get together on Thursday, Oct 23, to talk about topics and activities to include in next year’s lineup of meetings and mixers The hour-long meeting will be held in Cool Springs at M*Modal, 5000 Meridian Blvd., Suite 200 Snacks will be served, and all Chamber members 40 and younger are invited to come by and contribute their ideas And the popular after-hours networking mixer with Nashville peers is back at 5:30 p.m on Thursday, Oct 16, downtown at Rocketown, 601 4th Ave S It will include display booths staffed by members of more than 25 young professional organizations To learn more and register, see the event calendar at nashvillechamber.com SEE RELATED STORY AND PHOTOS ON PAGE The group from TN Media – the expo’s presenting sponsor – included Eddie Thurman, left, Chad Rogers, Katie Trickey, Beth Ferry and Carrie Cowles Chelsea Swindle, left, and Melanie Adams represented the Center for Executive Education at Belmont University Attendees enjoyed the Vanderbilt Health exhibit booth YOUR LIFE YOUR WORK YOUR PLAY YOUR HEALTH OUR PASSION Getting in the Millennial spirit, Ann Skiera, left, and Brentwood Mayor Betsy Crossley snapped a selfie Author Sarah Sladek spoke about young adults in the workplace Ask selfie inventors what’s up If employers are committed to engaging young adults in the workplace, they need to ask them what they want That was the message audience members got from author and consultant Sarah Sladek, who kicked off the September business expo as the keynote speaker Sladek is the founder of XYZ University and author of the book Knowing Y Sladek placed Generation Y, also known as Millennials, as people born from 1982 to 1995 She observed that by 2015, nearly 40 percent of the workforce will be made up of Gen Y workers, outnumbering the 30 percent known as Baby Boomers and the 22 percent just ahead of Gen Y in age, Generation X It will be the “largest shift in human capital” ever seen, she said With technology at their fingertips, these inventors of the photo selfie are accustomed to working anywhere and at anytime, she explained As society’s first “digital natives,” they value interacting via media and expect instant gratification in a 24/7 Googleable world, she said But they aren’t prone to sticking around for long when they’re hired – a trait that frustrates employers, Sladek added On average, employees under the age of 35 move on after 20 months, she noted Sladek advised employers that using the direct approach – asking them for input – produces the best response To engage them successfully, employers must earn their trust and offer them meaningful work, she said To that end, she left her audience with this challenge: in 30 days have 30 conversations with the “emerging talent” – the Millennials – to determine how to make the workplace more relevant for them THE POINT l October 2014 what’s new IN WILLIAMSON Page WE CELEBRATE WITH LOCAL BUSINESSES AS THEY OPEN, EXPAND AND RENOVATE! CASTLE & COOKE MORTGAGE LLC FIRST CITIZENS NATIONAL BANK FRANKLIN SYNERGY BANK Ribbon Cutting – Sept 23 • employees Ribbon Cutting – Sept 24 • employees Ribbon Cutting – Sept 26 • 10 employees With a business name dating back to 1851, Castle & Cooke provides mortgage purchase financing and refinancing, serving jumbo borrowers to first-time homeowners and renovators Focusing on fast, convenient service, the company does underwriting and closings around the clock from this Brentwood location This event recognized a milestone for the bank – serving customers for 125 years Community members and customers were invited to celebrate with the company, in which employees own about 20 percent of the stock Currently at 20 branches, First Citizens expects to add three more locations in the near future With growth that prompted a move to this new location, Franklin Synergy aims to serve the community with a wide range of banking and wealth management products and services Started in 2007 with a local board of directors and management team, the bank now includes 11 branches in Rutherford and Williamson counties FULIN’S ASIAN CUISINE GRACE HEALTHCARE OF FRANKLIN MARISTONE OF FRANKLIN 1287 W Main St • Franklin Ribbon Cutting – Sept 19 • 50 employees Open House – Sept 11 • 85 employees Maristone provides assisted living and memory care services with a focus on dementia and Alzheimer’s at two locations in Tennessee Managed by the nation’s leading provider of full-service senior living communities, Maristone is committed to taking care of the details so that seniors can live life to the fullest 109 Westpark Dr., Suite 150 • Brentwood 3046 Columbia Ave., Unit 102 • Franklin Ribbon Cutting – Sept • 15 employees If it’s Asian cuisine you’re craving, Fulin’s is the place to get it This new location serves up popular Chinese fare, as well as offering a wide variety of fresh sushi One of 10 Fulin’s locations, the food often appears on “best in town” lists created from customer input Stop by for the daily lunch special Silent auction 1304 Murfreesboro Road * Franklin This open house celebrated the completion of a welcoming lobby area, as well as renovations to private and semi-private suites aimed at serving short-term rehabilitation patients One of 21 Grace facilities in the state, the company provides a range of therapy and care services in a homelike environment (CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1) “We’re looking for high-value items that will really grab the attention of the guests,” she explained “Unique and unusual experiences always are popular And businesses also are welcomed to get together to offer a package combination to bring in those competing bids.” The silent auction items will be set up in the courtyard area outside of Jamison Hall Bidding before the meeting will begin at p.m Dinner will start at p.m., followed by the speakers at 6:30 The State of the Chamber annual celebration is being presented by the Lipscomb University College of Business and Spark: Lipscomb’s Idea Center Four event sponsors already have signed on: Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority, TN Media, Vanderbilt Health and Williamson Medical Center Eight event sponsorship spots for this highly anticipated evening still are available Contact Bass or cindi@williamsonchamber.com to learn more or join this elite group of community and business supporters 134 Pewitt Dr., Suite 100 • Brentwood 347 Riverside Dr • Franklin October luncheon (CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1) the Chamber and Economic Development “We learn so much about our local history while gaining skills that will benefit us in the workplace today.” Attendees should arrive at 11 a.m for networking The hour-long luncheon program will begin at 11:30 a.m The cost is $35 for Chamber members and $40 for non-members, who may register as guests Sign up online at williamsonchamber.com by noon on Friday, Oct 17, to avoid the $5 late fee All community members are invited to attend For more information, contact abby@ williamsonchamber.com or 615-771-1912 TO DO NOW! ber plete the Cham om C * link sent survey at the en’s in Matt L arg Oct email ve a spot a s an * R eser of the event sponsor l meeting Nov 19 annua celebration YP e dates for the * Save.th IB (Dec 9) (Dec 2) and W s holiday partie Page THE POINT l October 2014 events&meetings LEADERSHIP BRENTWOOD The CHAMBER OFFICE is located in Cool Springs at 5005 Meridian Blvd., Suite 150, Franklin OCT 14 CHAMBER 101 MEMBER ORIENTATION 3:30 p.m., Chamber office Presented by First Citizens National Bank OCT 16 NOLENSVILLE AREA BUSINESS COUNCIL QUARTERLY MEETING 11:30 a.m., Providence Baptist Fellowship 1668 Sunset Road, Brentwood Speaker: Mike Coleman Presented by Williamson Medical Center OCT 16 YP NASHVILLE CONNECT 5:30 p.m., Rocketown 601 4th Ave S., Nashville OCT 21 MEMBERSHIP LUNCHEON 11:30 a.m., Franklin Marriott Cool Springs 700 Cool Springs Blvd., Franklin Speakers: Tim Pierce, Thomas Flagel Presented by Saint Thomas Health OCT 23 MEMBER CONNECT! LEADS EXCHANGE Two sessions, members only 7:30 a.m and 3:30 p.m., Chamber office OCT 23 YP BRAINSTORMING SESSION p.m., M* Modal 5000 Meridian Blvd., Suite 200, Franklin OCT 27 PUBLIC AFFAIRS ROUNDTABLE 7:15 a.m., Williamson County Administrative Complex 1320 W Main St., Franklin OCT 27 FUTURE MEMBERS INFO SESSION p.m., Chamber office OCT 28 WOMEN IN BUSINESS LUNCHEON 11:30 a.m., Brentwood United Methodist Church 309 Franklin Road, Brentwood Speaker: Yolanda Harris-Jackson Presented by Williamson Medical Center NOV YOUR SMALL BUSINESS RESOURCE: FIRST FRIDAY 7:30 a.m, E|SPACES 1550 W McEwen Dr., Suite 300, Franklin Speaker: Sen Bob Corker Presented by FirstBank NOV 11 CHAMBER 101 MEMBER ORIENTATION a.m., Chamber office Presented by First Citizens National Bank NOV 12 YP FOCUS 11:30 a.m., Spark, Lipscomb’s Idea Center 3252 Aspen Grove Dr., Suite 9, Franklin Presented by Lipscomb University College of Business NOV 13 FUTURE MEMBERS INFO SESSION a.m., Chamber office RIBBON CUTTINGS OCT 10, 10:30 a.m • Pie Five OCT 16, p.m • Randstad Staffing OCT 23, p.m • Civil & Environmental Consultants, Inc PLEASE CHECK THE WEBSITE FOR UPDATES AND MORE INFORMATION In October the 2015 Leadership Brentwood participants considered what makes our great quality of life after learning about local history in their first session The non-profit Williamson County Chamber Foundation sponsors the leadership program, which continues through this spring Mentors needed to help students access college About 300 volunteer mentors are needed in Williamson County to help local high school students navigate the college application process so they can take advantage of the Tennessee Promise, the new program that will provide tuition for students to attend a state community college, technical college or other eligible institution The program provides lastdollar support, which kicks in after all other aid has been applied The funding is available for five consecutive semesters starting with the 2015 senior class to enable students to attain a two-year academic or technical degree or certification Support will be capped at about $4,000 for two semesters All Tennessee high school seniors, regardless of family income, are eligible to participate About 1,375 students in Williamson County are expected to apply, said Graham Thomas, director of community partnerships for tnAchieves, the nonprofit agency chosen by County Mayor Rogers Anderson to organize mentoring for Williamson students and provide administrative support Started as knoxAchieves in 2008, in six years the group has helped more than 12,000 students enroll at a post-secondary institution A majority of the students were the first in their family to take this crucial step Mentors will be assigned five to 10 students and can choose the Williamson high school where they want to volunteer They must complete a one-hour mandatory training session and attend two team meetings The time investment is estimated at 10 to 15 hours, which typically involves contacting assigned students by phone, email or text at least once every two weeks from January through December Mentors must be at least 21 and are subject to a background check to ensure student safety The volunteers will receive extensive supporting materials from tnAchieves to make the process quick and easy, Thomas explained Mentors may apply to participate in the program through Nov at tnAchieves.org Students who want to apply for Tennessee Promise funding must participate in the tnAchieves mentoring program starting in their senior year and also apply for the Tennessee Promise program online by Nov at tnpromise.gov Applicants must take the ACT standardized test by April 18, but no score requirement is set The FAFSA – the Free Application for Federal Student Aid – is used to determine Tennessee Promise funding, as well as for other types of loans and grants Students must complete the financial form online by Feb 15 In addition, students must apply directly by Feb 15 to the approved post-secondary institutions of their choice A list of the approved schools and other deadline information is available on the tnpromise.gov website and from high school guidance counselors Students may only enter the Tennessee Promise pipeline directly after high school graduation, so participation in tnAchieves and Tennessee Promise in their senior year is essential Mentors will play a key role in supporting students in this process and working with them to finish required paperwork and meet deadlines, said Thomas, who can be reached at graham@tnachieves.org “This mentoring program is designed so that even the busiest executive, parent or young professional can participate and make a meaningful impact,” he explained “This work truly can change lives and transform communities.” THE POINT l October 2014 Leah Hayes, left, joined Susie Ryan and Lisa Uiberall-Noble for a photo with the display for presenting sponsor Williamson Medical Center in the background Young Chamber members can get leadership training Women in Business Chair Linda Hirsch, left, posed with the meeting speaker, former astronaut Rhea Seddon Space pioneer lands back at home Rhea Seddon knows what it’s like to go first She became a surgeon and an astronaut at a time when very few women chose those career paths Then she went and married a fellow space traveler and they produced the first “astrotot,” one of four offspring they eventually would add to the family “NASA was in a quandary,” a bemused Reddon told about 100 audience members at the Williamson Chamber’s September Women in Business luncheon As a result, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration developed rules about astronauts getting hitched and space travel while pregnant, she added The Murfreesboro native, who flew on three space shuttle missions for a total of 30 days outside the earth’s atmosphere, has settled back in her home town with her husband, Robert “Hoot” Gibson, and family That’s where Reddon’s dreams of space blossomed, when her father took her out to the yard to look up at Sputnik flying by in the night sky “I remember thinking that’s the beginning of something really important,” Reddon said But, she added, “Nobody told little girls Page that they could that, too.” building in the health care In the end, that didn’t matter industry, Reddon will publish a Although she was on her way to a book next year about her experimedical career, Reddon jumped at ences She conceded that space the chance in 1977 when NASA travel is a “risky business” as she announced that women and remembered the loss of the colminorities would be included in leagues and friends on the space the next group of shuttle Challenger, astronauts In 1978 WOMEN IN which broke apart in she was one of six 1986 shortly after BUSINESS LUNCHEON takeoff The seven females who entered Tuesday, Oct 28 the program crew members on 11:30 a.m “We were afraid board were lost Brentwood United they might wash us “We always hope Methodist Church out, but NASA was the number of JOIN US NEXT TIME! landings equal the very committed to having women astronumber of takeoffs,” nauts,” she said, adding that they she said “We always felt the did sometimes feel a pushback benefits outweigh the risks.” from colleagues and others Not many people have the Reddon shared how she felt opportunity to be up there, when she blasted off on her first looking down on “where history flight in 1985 was made,” she said The crew “It is absolutely incredible I that cleans the space shuttle once can’t describe it,” she said, noting it’s back on earth has noted that that it’s amazing to see everything “there are an awful lot of nose begin to float once the capsule prints on the windows,” she said gets into orbit It’s not “until you “It’s just incredible to see.” fly,” she added, that you really The September Women in join the vaulted club Business was presented by “You’re there You’ve made it to Williamson Medical Center space,” she explained “You’re a CABLE President Yolanda Harrisbona fide astronaut.” Jackson will be the guest speaker Now a consultant in patient in October safety, quality of care and team Young professionals who have a passion for serving the community can prepare to contribute on a nonprofit board by participating in the Young Leaders Council, which is accepting applications online by Dec 15 for the 2015 Williamson County class Young Leaders Council (YLC) is a Nashvillebased nonprofit organization that has trained more than 2,000 men and women for board participation over nearly three decades The council is partnering with the Williamson Chamber for a third year to offer a class to Chamber members who are 25 to 40 years old Individual Williamson Chamber members, as well as employees of any company that has Chamber membership, are eligible to participate The program of 11 half-day, weekly sessions begins in February at the Chamber’s Cool Springs office Chamber young professionals can apply online at youngleaderscouncil.org Class members will be announced in early January The participation fee is $475, which the council said employers sometimes provide upon request The sessions cover crucial skills needed for nonprofit leadership, including board member responsibilities, strategic planning, nonprofit financials, legal responsibilities, conflict resolution, fundraising and how to have effective meetings Program graduates serve a one-year internship on a local non-profit board to put their elevated skills into action In addition to the Chamber class, the YLC provides four other classes locally that graduate some 130 participants annually For more information, contact YLC Executive Director Diane Hayes at diane@ youngleaderscouncil.org or 615-386-0060 To inquire about joining the Chamber in order to apply, call 615-771-1912 Find out if your employer is a Chamber member by searching the business directory under “Chamber” at williamsonchamber.com Put together your ‘marketing toolkit’ at NABC luncheon Effective marketing is essential for success in today’s competitive marketplace, and Mike Coleman makes that his business Coleman will share marketing Mike Coleman strategies for small businesses and organizations at the next quarterly Nolensville Area Business Council (NABC) luncheon on Thursday, Oct 16, at the Providence Baptist Fellowship, 1668 Sunset Road Coleman helps businesses develop digital marketing solutions in their quest to grow their client base, increase revenue and promote what they offer He works with all types of customers, from small shops to large service providers and individuals He has produced more than a dozen audio programs and published more than 200 articles on technology, marketing, business development and other topics related to business growth The professional speaker also is an authorized local expert for Constant Contact, which provides marketing services through email newsletters, surveys, events, social media promotions, online listings and more The NABC is sponsored by the Williamson Chamber to provide convenient educational and networking opportunities for business professionals in the Nolensville area However, business professionals from throughout the county are encouraged to attend the programs and network with prospective clients and vendors in this fast-growing eastern section of the county The 11:30 a.m luncheon costs $15 for both Chamber and community members The NABC is presented by Williamson Medical Center Register now at williamsonchamber.com Page THE POINT l October 2014 EXPO CELEBRATES WILLIAMSON BUSINESS Representing Inc 5000 company EHD Corporation, Michael Claudio visited with Sladek and the Chamber’s Cindi Parmenter Lawanda Mason, left, and Cathy Holland represented Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority The Fifth Third Bank booth included representatives Dennis Stallings, left, Claudia Rose and David Emerson Lindsay Solomon, left, and Jennie Tatum described the work of Interior Design Services Holly Shelton shared the Williamson Medical Center story with expo attendees Matt Shorter with NovaCopy shared information about the company with attendees l SEE RELATED STORY AND PHOTOS ON PAGE Mike Cook and Cayla Cook represented South Wind Apartments YOUR SMALL BUSINESS RESOURCE: FIRST FRIDAY The Chamber welcomes Sen Bob Corker as the featured speaker FRIDAY NOV 7:30 A.M E | SPACES Due to space limitations, attendees will need to register at williamsonchamber.com REGISTRANTS ON THE WAITING LIST WILL BE NOTIFIED IF SPOTS OPEN UP Mitch Kline and Maryann Stafford were on hand for Livability Ascend Federal Credit Union provided a popular caricature artist The first-ever business expo organized by the countywide Chamber showcased 70 event sponsors, local businesses and food vendors on Sept 25, as the sold-out exhibit space hummed with activity in Liberty Hall at The Factory at Franklin More than 300 attendees perused exhibit booths promoting a wide variety of goods and services, which were open from p.m to p m after author and consultant Sarah Sladek presented a p.m keynote address in Jamison Hall about young adults in the workplace “We want to thank all the sponsors, exhibitors and volunteers for making this a very successful and informative business expo,” said Meetings and Events Director Abby Bass “The business community had indicated an interest in the Chamber doing this, and the fantastic participation certainly proved it is valued in the community.” Williamson leads the state’s Inc 5000 list Music City had a lot to celebrate when the Inc 5000 list of the fastest-growing private companies in America was released in August, but the biggest party really was just south of the Davidson County border Twenty-six of the companies – nearly a third of the 80 on the list from the state of Tennessee – are located in Williamson County Twenty-one are located in Nashville “That is pretty amazing when you consider that our county accounts for only about percent of the state’s population,” said Matt Largen, president and chief executive officer of Williamson, Inc., the Chamber and Economic Development Williamson County businesses took seven slots on the shorter Inc 500 list, with Brentwood-based Entrada coming in as the fastest- growing company in the state A provider of health care technology related to electronic records, the company ranked 281 with a threeyear growth rate of 1,628 percent Two other Brentwood companies made the 500 cut – EHD Technologies and American Addiction Centers Of the 26 Williamson County companies on the Inc 5000 list, nine are in Brentwood, 16 are in Franklin – which includes Cool Springs – and one is in Thompson’s Station Largen said he believes the county’s unique offerings attract a range of dynamic businesses, from start-up entrepreneurs to large corporate headquarters “We have a highly educated and talented workforce, great public schools, opportunities for higher education and a wonderful quality of life,” he said Low taxes and minimal crime rates add to the mix, he added Mayor Rogers Anderson said creating and maintaining an environment that encourages business investment is the best thing he can for Williamson County “Businesses large and small appreciate the fact that Williamson County is a great place to locate and grow a business,” he explained “I spend time meeting with small and large businesses to make sure we are attracting the kind of talent they need while providing essential services at a great value.” The Inc 5000 and 500 rankings, complied annually by Inc magazine, are based on overall revenue growth over a three-year business period The lists, with a snapshot of each business, are available at inc.com/inc5000