Leadership Rutherford has named Chris Jones, president of Middle Tennessee Electric Membership Corporation, as the 2015 recipient of the Pinnacle Award, given to someone who has demonstrated significant leadership throughout his or her career.

Chris Jones is just the fifth CEO of MTEMC's 80-year history. A 17-year veteran of the utility company, he is a graduate of the University of Tennessee, where he earned his bachelor's degree in communications. His varied career has seen him work in print and broadcast journalism, corporate communications and marketing, and executive leadership.

He is a 2011 graduate of Leadership Rutherford and served on the Leadership Rutherford Council from 2011-2015. Chris lives in Murfreesboro with his wife, Bonita. Their oldest daughter, Cayln, attends Columbia College in Chicago. Their youngest, Chrisln, is a freshman at Redeemer Classical Academy in Murfreesboro, where Bonita also teaches. He is a native of Manchester, Tenn., where he continues to serve as a deacon at his home church.

"Chris has continuously demonstrated outstanding leadership throughout our community," said Leadership Rutherford Executive Director Stephanie Brackman. "We are grateful for his many contributions and thrilled to honor him with this coveted award."

Jones will be honored at the Chamber's annual Business at its Best event on Friday, Jan. 22, at the Embassy Suites Murfreesboro Hotel and Conference Center. Reservations are $70 for Chamber members and $90 for non-members. To reserve a seat, please contact the Chamber at 615-893-6556 or visit www.rutherfordchamber.org.

The Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce, which includes the Convention & Visitors Bureau, Destination Rutherford, Economic Development, Workforce Development and the Business Education Partnership, seeks to promote economic development and a quality of life to benefit all residents of Rutherford County. Programs, events and services are offered to both its nearly 1,600 member organizations and non-members. The Chamber operates out of a main office on Medical Center Parkway in Murfreesboro, which also houses the Tennessee Small Business Development Center, and has branch offices in Smyrna, La Vergne and Eagleville. Learn more at www.rutherfordchamber.org.