Chamber's Annual "Business At Its Best" Celebration

Friday (2/3/2012) was an evening to celebrate business in the Heart of Tennessee. Outgoing Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce Board Chairman Gordon Ferguson not only lauded thanks on the Middle Tennessee Medical Center staff, but to his wife Cindy and the dedicated leaders at the Chamber for making this the third largest Chamber in the entire state.

(L-R Photo) 2011 Chamber Chair Gordon Ferguson, who is president and CEO of Middle Tennessee Medical Center. 2012 Chair Peter Demos, who is president of Demos' Family Restaurant. 

Lynn Tede with Bob Parks Realty was named the 2012 Diplomat of the Year.  (left photo L-R) Diplomat Lynn Tede and Chamber Chairman Gordon Ferguson.  

The passing of the gavel saw Peter Demos step forward and vow to use technology to grow the chamber even more. He told how our local Chamber's FaceBook page has approximately 400 fewer members than the National Chamber of Commerce. He encouraged everyone in the Embassy Suite's ballroom to get their smart phones out and become FaceBook friends. 

Business Legend

It was moving as Peter introduced his father as recipient of the Business Legend. Jim Demos and his wife Doris, who passed away two days before Christmas a little over two-years ago, were honored with a special video. Then Jim shared fatherly advice with everyone at the sold-out event. He closed with the promise that Doris' spirit of service and love would always be a part of their business. 

Demos' Restaurant is truly a family business. Jim and wife Doris had a vision of a restaurant that would offer very affordable, unique entrees made with family recipes and service exceeding customer expectations. At the end of Jim Demos' inspiring comments, the entire ballroom rose and gave him a standing ovation. 

(below L-R) Senator Jim Tracy, Senator Bill Ketron, Jim Demos and Representative Mike Sparks present the Business Legend with a joint Senate-House resolution that thanks him for his service to the community. .  

Business Persons of the Year

Some call them the dynamic duo, but Shane Reeves and Rick Sain, owners of the Reeves-Sain Family of Medical Services, shared their business philosophy.  (L-R below) Shane Reeves, Chamber President Paul Latture, and Rick Sain. 

Reeves-Sain Drug Store opened its doors in 1980 here in Murfreesboro. Over the last two decades, this family-owned business has grown and diversified to provide a family of medical services. Through quality products and accessible professional services, Rick Sain and Shane Reeves have led the business to providing timely, consistent, comprehensive pharmaceutical care to all communities in our service area

Leadership Rutherford Pinnacle Award

Leadership Rutherford 2012 President Kevin Arnold asked WGNS' Bart Walker to step forward as this year's recipient of this honor. Leadership Rutherford (LR) is an educational program sponsored by the Chamber, that trains local residents who wish to better serve their community. Ironically, Bart, his wife Lee Ann and son Scott are all graduates of the program. His daughter Kristin is a graduate of the local LR program in high school. The Rutherford County delegation to the General Assembly presented him with a joint Senate-House resolution relating to the Pinnacle Award. (L-R below) Representative Joe Carr, Bart Walker, Senators Bill Ketron and Jim Tracy, and State Representative Mike Sparks. 

Leadership Rutherford is a personal development program designed to motivate participants to develop and enhance the quality of their leadership in addressing pertinent community needs. The program began locally in 1986, and Walker was a member of the founding class.