Happy Holidays from Williamson, Inc.Happy Holidays from Williamson, Inc.Thank you for making 2015 a great year!

Ring in the new year with a chamber membership.

5005 Meridian Blvd., Franklin TN 37067 l 615-771-1912 l williamsonchamber.com

Join today!Join today!

DECEMBER 2015Vol. 17 | Issue 12

PAGE 4

Highlights from the AnnualCelebration

PAGE 7

Reflections on county fromChamber CEO

2016 SPONSORSHIPS AVAILABLE!Learn how to boost your

presence among the County’s business community on page 6.

Williamson leaders appointed to Chamber’s board

New membership features coming in 2016

Ten accomplished business leaders have been tapped to join the 2016 Board of Directors to help lead Williamson, Inc. to another year of growth. They will lend their respective talents and expertise to provide overall direction in accomplishing the mission and strategic goals of the Chamber.

The new board members are:

• Nelson Andrews, Owner & General Manager, Andrews Cadillac/Jaguar/Land Rover Co.

• Derek Bell, Vice President and Partner, Bell & Associates Construction, and Owner/Founder, Corsair Distillery

• Alex Fisch, Senior Vice President of Capital Markets,

Southern Land Company• Kelly Gilfillan, Chief

Executive Officer and Editor,

Home Page Media Group• Cherie Hammond,

Business Development

Associate and Financial Advisor, Aspen Grove Asset

At Williamson, Inc., we take an inno-vative approach to building a prosperous business community and pride ourselves on listening to feedback from our mem-bers and acting accordingly. Here’s what new features and benefits to expect from the Chamber in 2016.EVENTS

Held quarterly, each signature event holds its own as a not-to-be-missed occasion in the Williamson business community, drawing hundreds of professionals from various industries.

Save the date for Outlook Williamson

on March 15, 7 to 11 a.m. at The Factory. This half-day economic forum returns for its third installment featuring regional, state and national experts who will provide insider views, business trends and a wide range of statistics on Williamson County. On June 21, the Business Expo returns to showcase our members’ products and services to the general public. Coming next fall will be a transportation initiative adopted from best practices learned during the Williamson Forward: Expedition Austin trip this past September. Mobility Week, set for Sept.

19-23, will be a week-long effort to increase school bus ridership, ridesharing, telecommuting and flex scheduling as a way to reduce traffic congestion. We’ll close out the year with the Annual Celebration, scheduled for November 17.MONTHLY MEETINGS

Membership meetings are getting a slight makeover as the format will change to a combination of luncheons and mix-ers. The Chamber will host luncheons with a guest speaker in January, February, May, June, July, August and

Nelson Andrews Derek Bell Alex Fisch Kelly Gilfillan Cherie Hammond

Richard Herrington Tena Mayberry Celeste Patterson Richard Perko Paige Thompson

l CONTINUED ON PAGE 7

l CONTINUED ON PAGE 3

in thisISSUE

Page 2 THE POINT l December 2015

THE POINT is published monthly as a partnership between the Williamson Chamber and The Tennessean. For editorial inquiries or advertising opportunities, contact Charlane Oliver at charlane@williamsonchamber.com. 5005 Meridian Blvd., Suite 150 | Franklin, TN 37067 | 615.771.1912 | www.williamsonchamber.com

Bella Baskets8348 Lochinver Park Ln.Brentwood, TN 37027(615) 519-3984Lori Sherry

Benz & Company1724 A General George Patton Dr.Brentwood, TN 37027(855) 337-6004benzandcompany.comGary Benz

Carnivore735 Columbia Ave.Franklin, TN 37064(615) 614-3134carnivoremarket.comVirginia Botha

Cross Country Mortgage, Inc.106 Mission Ct., Ste. 202Franklin, TN 37067(615) 905-0074myccmortgagetn.comBrad Neumann

Crown Abbey, LLC1409 Hunter Rd.Franklin, TN 37064(201) 574-3181Heidi Beatty

Daniel Olson7113 Tullamore LaneFranklin, TN 37067(847) 971-2394linkedin.com/in/danolson5Daniel Olson

Focus Financial Group, LLC133 Holiday Ct., Ste. 204Franklin, TN 37067(615) 591-3937ffgroupllc.comJohn Stover

Heartland4257 Warren Rd.Franklin, TN 37067(917) 915-7399heartlandpaymentsystems.comClaudio Romeo

Heartland Partners, LLC8251 Dalewood Ct.Brentwood, TN 37027(615) 456-2099heartland-partners.comBrian Schiedemeyer

Herban Market3078 Maddux Way, Ste. 300Franklin, TN 37069(615) 927-3241herban-market.comAshlea Hogancamp

Historic Travellers Rest Plantation636 Farrell PkwyNashville, TN 37220(615) 832-8197 x10travellersrestplantation.orgJune Swartz

It’s a Wrap, Inc.2550 Meridian Blvd., Ste. 350Franklin, TN 37067(615) 628-7017itsabrandingwrap.comDavid Jones

John Dance5301 Virginia Way, Ste. 100Brentwood, TN 37027(615) 916-0064John Dance

Julie Hannah Taleghani1416 Willowbrooke Cir.Franklin, TN 37069(615) 364-2325Julie Taleghani

Kroger - Westhaven 411 Whitman Rd.Franklin, TN 37064Butch Golson

Melaleuca1716 Burke Hollow Rd.Nolensville, TN 37135(615) 373-0599realsuccessrealpeople.com/joannJo Ann Goodman

Middle Tennessee State University University College

1301 E. Main St., Box 54Murfreesboro, TN 37132(615) 494-7714mtsu.edu/ucMolly Culbreath

Nissan of Cool Springs212 Comtide Ct.Franklin, TN 37064(615) 790-2500Heather Easling

OakPoint Real Estate2 Music Circle SouthSuite 200Nashville, TN 37203(615) 324-0794oakpointre.comJeremiah Pyron

Ralph Colaberdino135 Lancaster Dr.Franklin, TN 37064(615) 927-6670Ralph Colaberdino

Sam’s Club3070 Mallory Ln.Franklin, TN 37067(615) 778-1401samsclub.comJason Dickey

Shelter Insurance106 Mission Ct., Ste. 602 AFranklin, TN 37067(615) 567-6510shelterinsurance.com/jbraggJarrett Braggs

Thrivent Financial1493 Bern Dr.Spring Hill, TN 37174(888) 959-5902 x102thrivent.comDennis May

uBreakiFixP.O. Box 1053Nolensville, TN 37135(615) 394-4318ubreakifix.comScott Phillips

Waterford Tax Group2550 Meridian Blvd, Ste. 350Franklin, TN 37067(615) 507-1500waterfordtaxgroup.comChad Williams, EA

We Make Company Videos104 Carr Ave., Unit 2Franklin, TN 37064(615) 472-8588wemakecompanyvideos.comJon Boucher

These companies and individuals have made a commitment to business growth and to their community by joining the Williamson Chamber. They will enjoy the benefits of a robust business directory listing on the Chamber website and referrals from our office and from fellow members. When you need products or services, please search the directory on the Chamber website and do business with a Chamber member.

WELCOME new membersJOIN THE MEMBER BUSINESSES THAT SUPPORT THE WILLIAMSON CHAMBER – CALL US TODAY AT 615-771-1912.

18 CHAMBER BENEFITS for you and your business

Join WILLIAMSON, INC. to take advantage of these valuable membership benefits! Call 615-771-1912, stop by our office, or sign up online at williamsonchamber.com.

did you know?WILLIAMSON INC. WILL HOST YOUR RIBBON CUTTING CEREMONY.Planning to open, expand, renovate or break ground on a business in 2016? Let Williamson, Inc. host your ribbon cutting ceremony!

Contact Claudia Herrera at 615-771-1912 to arrange your celebratory event.

l 24/7 online presence in our Business Directoryl Access to prominent leaders, elected officials and over

1,300 members l Advertising, sponsorships, Hot Deals, and targeted

direct mail marketingl Business referrals exclusively to membersl Exclusive discounts on products and servicesl Professional development and educational programmingl Promotion through Livability magazine, The Williamson

Weekly, The Point and social media l Volunteer opportunities to impact your community

l Business advocacyl Business profile analyticsl Credibility and reputationl Free job postingsl Insider information to industry news,

resources, data and trendsl Meeting room rentalsl Networking opportunitiesl Ribbon cutting ceremoniesl Tax deductible membership duesl Visibility and exposure

THE POINT l December 2015 Page 3

October. Members and guests will come together in an informal setting during the networking mixer scheduled for April. Our four signature events will replace membership meetings in March, June, September and November. All

membership meetings are on the third Tuesday of each month, except for the Wednesday, Jan. 20 meeting.

Female professionals will be excited to attend a Women in Business breakout luncheon in July, where members will

enjoy a boxed lunch and small breakout sessions based on areas of interest. All Women in Business events are held on the fourth Tuesday of each month, with no meeting scheduled in November.

We’ll still provide more of the same

quality programming our members have come to expect and enjoy. First Friday, Young Professionals, Nolensville Area Business Council and Public Affairs Roundtable will offer great speakers at their regularly scheduled dates and times.

For anyone who wants to get a jump-start on nailing down these dates on their calendar, visit williamsonchamber.com to pre-pay for your events for the entire year.MEMBERSHIP DISCOUNTS

Williamson, Inc. is pleased to announce two new Affinity Partners joining our member discount program: UPS of Cool Springs & Brentwood and Vanderbilt Health Affiliated Network (VHAN). These companies will offer exclusive savings to Chamber members in addition to our current Affinity Partners, Office Depot and BancCard.

UPS Store of Cool Springs & Brentwood will be providing an in-store Savings Pass discount at both locations. Members will receive 18 to 28 percent off all services. To learn more, visit www.chambersavingspass.com.

VHAN will be offering member com-panies an opportunity to provide their employees with a health and wellness program. Through an online portal, employees of the participating company can earn points for engaging in certain healthy initiatives, such as exercising and smoking cessation, and then apply those points toward the purchase of dis-counted health-related products. Learn more about this exciting offer at the Jan. 20 membership luncheon, 11 a.m. at the Franklin Marriott.

We are replacing our twice-monthly Information Sessions with a monthly Open House mixer.

Members who want a snazzy look to their member profile in the online busi-ness directory can now customize it with uploaded videos, graphics, photo galleries and social media links. COMMUNICATIONS

No one wants to be inundated with emails. So why receive emails about First Friday when you only want to attend Women in Business events? We’ll be rolling out an opt-in email subscrip-tion feature that will allow you to select the Chamber news and events that mat-ter most to you. We’ll also engage our online audience more through social media so look for some Twitter chats to take place as well as our events live-streamed on Periscope.

Look for other exciting developments as the year unfolds, and join in where it benefits your business the most.

2016 Chamber membership features (CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1)

Page 4 THE POINT l December 2015

There was much to be celebrated at the 2015 Annual Celebration presented by Willliamson Medical Center on Nov. 19. Start with the fact that Williamson, Inc. opened the doors at The Factory’s Jamison Hall to its largest crowd in his-tory. The record setting attendance reflected the plethora of business lead-ers, elected officials, educators, volun-teers, board members and staff that showed up to support. Among the VIPs in attendance were Williamson County Mayor Rogers Anderson, state Rep. Charles Sargent, state Sen. Jack Johnson and Franklin Mayor Ken Moore.

Those who also had a reason to cele-brate were the winners of the more than 40 silent auction items up for grabs, including a destination getaway to Destin, Florida, two round-trip tickets from Southwest Airlines and tickets to see Madonna live in concert at Bridgestone Arena.

Williamson, Inc. President and CEO Matt Largen kicked off the program with the State of the Chamber address, where he presented outgoing board chairman Chris Czarka from Nissan with a gift of gratitude for his leadership and service. He also recognized other retir-ing board members and the 264 hard-working volunteers that served on vari-ous Chamber committees this year. Cindi Parmenter, the Chamber’s chief operating officer, received a moving trib-ute for her seven years of service that is coming to a close at the end of 2015.

“My heart is full tonight,” said Parmenter, who was moved to tears by a video tribute by her Chamber col-leagues and thanked everyone she’s worked with over the years.

Largen announced exciting news for what’s ahead in 2016. The Chamber is launching in February a partnership with the Nashville Entrepreneur Center to incubate startups in Williamson County. Mobility Week is being launched Sept 19-23 to promote ridesharing, school bus ridership, vanpooling, telecommut-ing and flex scheduling in an effort to solve the county’s traffic problems. Outlook Williamson and the Business Expo will also return in the spring and summer, respectively.

The evening finished strong with a key-note address by Tennessee Department of Economic & Community Development Commissioner Randy Boyd, who shared his plans for moving the state to top rank-ings in household income, job creation,

tourism, corporate expansion and post-secondary education attainment.

“This is the best time in the state’s history,” Boyd said. Post-secondary attain-ment and income is the highest in the state’s history. FAFSA filings — an indica-tion of college pursuance — increased by 18 percent this year, the highest of any other state. Tennessee is on track to set a record for 24,220 new jobs, citing that 75 percent of job announcements in the state come from existing companies.

“Our mission is to be number one in the southeast for high quality jobs,” said Boyd. He closed out his speech with this advice: “Dream big.”

The Annual Celebration was pre-sented by Williamson Medical Center and sponsored by AT&T, LBMC, Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority, Vanderbilt Health and WGU Tennessee. The signa-ture drink served during the cocktail hour was provided by H. Clark Distillery. Uber Nashville was the evening’s ridesharing sponsor. Media sponsors included Home Page Media Group, Williamson Herald and YOUR Williamson. The entire classy event was produced by Big Events, Inc. View photos from the event on our Facebook page or follow #CelebrateWilCo on Twitter for highlights.

Lots to be celebrated at Chamber’s year-end soiree

“We are very fortunate to have Williamson medical center in our community.”–Ryan Palmer

We would love to hear your Story.

Chief Operating Officer Cindi Parmenter couldn’t hold back the tears when Williamson, Inc. paid tribute to her seven years of service with the Chamber.

In Matt Largen’s state of the chamber address, he thanked Nissan North America’s Director of Tax and Trade Chris Czarka, left, for his leadership as the outgoing board chairman.

From left, State Rep. Charles Sargent, City of Brentwood Vice Mayor Jill Burgin, and Nelson Andrews (right) of Andrews Cadillac posed with the keynote speaker, TNECD Commissioner Randy Boyd.

State Commissioner of Economic and Community Development

Randy Boyd told the audience his plans for economic development

in Tennessee, which is largely related to education, workforce development and job creation.

“We look to Williamson County as the gold standard in education,” said Commissioner Boyd about

the state’s initiatives to improve achievement scores and

post-secondary education.– PHOTOS BY JENNIFER CROUCH PHOTOGRAPHY

THE POINT l December 2015 Page 5

Thanks to H. Clark Distillery, guests enjoyed a gin-infused signature cocktail called The Harvest.

Ryan and Olivia Yearwood represented WeMakeCompanyVideos.com, one of the 42 businesses that donated items to the silent auction. Collectively, the items were valued at over $29,000.

Catching up during the cocktail hour were Paula Harris, Lynn Maddox, and newly re-elected Franklin Alderman Pearl Bransford.

Michael Cooper of Murals & More, Rev. Ashley Abarca-Mitchell of Franklin United Methodist Church and her husband David Abarca attended.

Williamson, Inc.’s Meetings & Events Coordinator Verlinda Darden, middle, welcomed Mike Alexander and Brian Reeves to the Annual Celebration.

Williamson County Mayor Rogers Anderson, left, along with Russell and Diane Little came out to celebrate the county’s business community.

Jeff Falvo and Shelley Moeller were among the 264 dedicated volunteers recognized for their service throughout the year. Falvo served on the Development Committee, and Moeller was the Engagement Committee chair.

Nick Biniker and Amanda Murray, part of Williamson, Inc.’s Economic Development team, were all smiles before the program got underway.

FirstBank, this year’s First Friday presenting sponsor, was well-represented by Emily Seivers, Lisa Futrell, Keely Hall and Jordon Waldron.

Kicking the evening off with good

conversation were Franklin Tomorrow’s

Executive Director, Mindy Tate, along

with Mark Cook and Kelly Gilfillan of Home

Page Media Group and board member

Gary Buchanan.

Annual Celebration guests were serenaded by the mellow jazz tunes of the Sam Levine Band. Sam Levine, right, is an award-winning saxophonist who has recorded tracks for notable country music and jazz artists.– PHOTOS BY JENNIFER CROUCH PHOTOGRAPHY

2015 ANNUAL CELEBRATION

“The Point” sat down with the Chamber’s leader, Matt Largen, to recap the biggest milestones of the year and get his thoughts on the economic landscape in the county.

l What were the best Chamber moments, meetings and events from 2015?

Williamson, Inc. hosted 98 meetings and events, featuring dynamic speakers, sold-out crowds and useful content. We served more than 1,300 busi-nesses and welcomed an addi-tional 307 new members. We opened our doors to Governor Bill Haslam for his statewide tour to discuss local transpor-tation needs and even hosted a presidential candidate, Ohio Governor John Kasich, to speak with business leaders. We partnered with Mayor Rogers Anderson for the Williamson Moves summit to tackle pressing issues such as traffic congestion; the City of Franklin, for the aldermanic candidates’ election forum; and Williamson County Schools (WCS), to expose students to careers through summer internships, the 14th Annual Career Exploration Day and our first-ever Manufacturing Day. We capitalized on the excite-ment of the Pilgrimage Music Festival to host a red carpet tour in an effort to show national site consultants why Williamson County is the ideal location for companies looking to relocate their operations.

A pivotal moment this year occurred in July when Dr. Mike Looney announced he

would renew his contract to remain the superintendent for Williamson County Schools for four more years. In his announcement, he stated that the support of Williamson, Inc. positively influenced his decision. For the Chamber’s economic development team, it was a defining moment because Dr. Looney’s leader-ship is the driving force behind our strong partnership with WCS. Our economic future is tied to the strength of our top-performing school systems. Our public schools are this county’s strategic economic asset that drives company expansion and relocation decisions.

l What was the most sig-nificant activity/project of the Chamber and of Economic Development this last year?

Our trip to Austin, Texas called Williamson Forward: Expedition Austin, which took place Sept. 28-30, was the single most significant activity. After planning the trip for more than a year, we found incredi-ble similarities to the Austin region — specifically that they were dealing with the same transit, workforce, and educa-tion concerns that come with rapid growth. We took a dele-gation of 84 elected officials, business leaders and educators to take an in-depth look at how a region similar to ours responded to population growth, solved traffic and transportation issues, built top-notch school systems and con-tinues to recruit large indus-

tries and companies. We learned that we will need to embrace technology and inno-vative approaches to solving traffic conges-tion. For example, we saw Google’s self-driv-ing cars being tested on the roads in Austin. These types of cutting edge technologies will be the key to keeping up with growth trends in our county. It was an incredible learning experience that is already leading to more conversations and tangible action steps for next year.

l Speaking of next year, what economic development initiatives can we look forward to? What industries are you looking to recruit? Any special projects or events that you’re planning?

Through the six key initia-tives of promoting higher edu-cation and workforce develop-ment, improving regional cooperation, existing business support, targeted business recruitment, and fostering a culture of entrepreneurship, the economic development department’s main goal is to boost employment by 1,600 direct, high-wage jobs over the next five years. Our target sec-tors for business recruitment are headquarters, information technology, health care, and research and development. That really has not changed over the past several years.

This economy is driven by regional, national, and interna-

tional headquarter operations, and we are fortunate that we have three times the number of

jobs in that category than the US average. Our first priority is to continue our outreach to existing employers to do every-thing we can to help them grow in Williamson County. We know that in the last two years, 95 percent of all announced jobs came from companies that already had a presence in the Nashville region. We will also build our pipeline of new companies through inbound and outbound trips to visit and host site location consultants. Finally, we will have a formal agreement in place soon for some programming out of the Nashville Entrepreneur Center in Williamson County in our office.

l What area of the county do you believe will experience the next pocket of growth?

Economic growth will con-tinue in the Cool Springs area with planned development coming on-line in 2016. Additionally, development is starting to take hold down the

Interstate 65 corridor towards Spring Hill. Berry Farms, a mixed-use development in

South Franklin, is a great example of this. The Berry Farms devel-opment will feature a hotel, various retail and restaurants, entertain-ment, apartments and condominiums in addi-tion to the multitude of office space. Three companies, including Lee Co. and The Lampo Group (Dave Ramsey’s parent com-

pany), have recently announced headquarter moves to this development with more on the way.

l What are the biggest challenges facing our community as we build more homes, retail and office space and more people want to move here?

Transportation, affordable housing and filling the labor skills gap are the biggest chal-lenges effecting growth in our community. Transportation has been a focus of many discus-sions, as well as a continued focus on matching worker skills with employer demand. The demand for housing con-tinues to increase real estate prices in an already affluent market. There is a large gap in “workforce” or “young profes-sional” housing. Many people who work in the community cannot afford to live here, which further creates traffic congestion as our workforce

MATT LARGEN Williamson, Inc.President and Chief Executive Officer

Q A&Chamber CEO sees bright future ahead for Williamson County

On the heels of his widely publicized announcement to remain the Williamson County Schools Superintendent for an additional four years, Dr. Mike Looney delivers his state of the schools address to more than 300 Chamber members Aug.18 at the Franklin Marriott.

Governor Bill Haslam talks transit funding and solutions with government officials and business leaders from Williamson, Maury, Dickson and Cheatham counties during his statewide transportation tour Aug. 13.

Williamson, Inc.’s Economic Partnership investors and national site consultants listen to the sounds of singer-songwriters Lee Miller, Anthony Smith and Jeffrey Steele in the event barn at Homestead Manor. This was one of several red carpet tour events during Pilgrimage Music Festival weekend, Sept. 25-27. – PHOTO BY LILLIAN B PHOTOGRAPHY

l CONTINUED ON PAGE 7

Page 6 THE POINT l December 2015

“The Point”

The CHAMBER OFFICE is located in Cool Springs at 5005 Meridian Blvd., Suite 150, Franklin.

JAN 12 CHAMBER 101 MEMBER ORIENTATION 3:30 p.m., Chamber Office JAN 20 MEMBERSHIP MEETING 11:30 a.m., Franklin Marriott 700 Cool Springs Blvd., Franklin Presented by Williamson Medical Center JAN 26 WOMEN IN BUSINESS LUNCHEON 11:30 a.m. Brentwood United Methodist Church 309 Franklin Rd., Brentwood

The Chamber office will be closed Dec. 24 - Jan. 1 and will re-open on Monday, Jan. 4, 2016.

RIBBON CUTTINGSDEC 11, 1 p.m. • APCOM GroundbreakingDEC 15, 11 a.m. • Miles Express Grand Opening

PLEASE CHECK THE WEBSITE FOR UPDATES AND MORE INFORMATION.

events&meetingsBoost your business with a 2016 sponsorship

Give your business — and your new year — a big boost with a Williamson, Inc. sponsorship! The 2016 sponsorship guide is now available at william-sonchamber.com. The guide previews ways to get the best exposure in front of more than 1,300 mem-ber businesses and their employees.

Effective marketing is a challenge for businesses of all sizes. From online to in-person, making productive contacts with prospective customers can feel like a moving target. With its diverse and engaged mem-bership, Williamson, Inc. offers multiple opportuni-ties to raise the visibility of your brand and your products and services.

Whether your target market is C-Suite corporate executives attending our monthly Membership Meetings, up-and-coming entrepreneurs at First Friday, female professionals at Women in Business or talented millennials who comprise our Young Professionals, the Chamber has sponsorship opportunities that will get you in the right room.

Not only does a sponsorship bring

prominence to your brand, it also helps ensure that Williamson County continues to be one of the best

places in the country to work and live. It’s an investment to be proud of with a proven high-value return.

“We are focused on providing value for those who invest in us,” Williamson, Inc. President and CEO says in his welcome message in the sponsorship guide. “We have a solemn responsibility to make sure

membership dollars are used in the most efficient way possible that will help you grow your business.”

The guide details various sponsorship opportunities ranging from $200 to $15,000 and outlines the benefits included at every level of investment. Companies can choose between our quality monthly programs, well-attended sig-nature events, or informa-tive leadership programs with the Williamson Chamber Foundation. It also entails information on how to take advantage of our member services, such as ribbon cuttings and confer-ence room rentals.

Chamber membership is required to be a meeting or event sponsor. If you’re not yet a member and would like to snag a coveted spon-sorship spot, contact a

membership representative to get started at membership@williamson-chamber.com or call 615-771-1912.

To learn more about Chamber sponsorship or to request a hard copy of the sponsorship guide, contact Meetings & Events Director Abby Bass at abby@williamsonchamber.com.

Williamson Medical Center served as the presenting sponsor of the membership meetings from January until June 2015. Pictured above, Katie-Beth Sitz, Adrienne Bero and Jenna Eckert promote the opening of their children’s hospital at the July luncheon.

Save the date • March 15OUTLOOK WILLIAMSON

7-11 a.m. • The Factory

Chamber leadership (CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1) Matt Largen Q&A (CONTINUED FROM PAGE 6)

Management• Richard Herrington, Chairman and

Chief Executive Officer, Franklin Financial Network/Franklin Synergy Bank

• Tena Mayberry, President & CEO, Century II and Fortune Industries, Inc.

• Celeste Patterson, Chief Operating Officer/Chief Financial Officer, H. G. Hill Realty Company, LLC

• Richard Perko, President, Lee Company

• Paige Thompson, Vice President of Relocation & Corporate Services, Zeitlin & Company Realtors

With the start of the fiscal year in January, the board will also have a new slate of officers. They are: Paula Harris, Barge Waggoner Sumner Cannon (President); Shelley Moeller, Harpeth True Value Home Center (Secretary); Jeff Drummonds, LBMC (Treasurer); and Chris Czarka, Nissan North America (Immediate Past Chair). The Vice Chair will be appointed by January.

Additional board members include:

Corinne Bergeron, Jackson National Life Insurance; Mark Cleveland, Hobby Express; Amy Cross-Nance, Attorney; Debbie Henry, The TMA Group; Cathy Holland, Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority; Bart Jones, Investment Planners; Derby Jones, Williamson Herald; Doug Korn, Mars Petcare; Andy Marshall, A. Marshall Family Foods, Inc.; Thomas McDaniel, Boyle Investment; Dennis Norvet, Shanksa USA; Tracey Power, Vaco; Drew Rodgers, First Tennessee Bank; Dawn Rudolph, Saint Thomas Health; Dr. Henry Russell, Vanderbilt Health; Dr. Janet Smith, Columbia State Community College; Steve Smith, Williamson Medical Center; and Ellie Westman Chin, Williamson County Convention and Visitors Bureau.

The 36-member governing body of the Chamber includes 32 members, three ex-officio members and the President and CEO, Matt Largen. Board members serve three-year terms, with ten board members added every year on a rolling basis.

commutes into the county from all directions. We are actively working on solutions for both affordable housing options as well as a regional transportation solution. The amount of traffic on our roads will not likely decrease, but we are looking at solutions such as mass transit, ridesharing, walkability, telecommuting and flexible work hours, to keep the congestion from growing to uncontrollable levels.

l Do you feel that the business community, and the community at-large, is receptive to growth trends that the county is moving toward? Are they open to newcomers and millennials relocating here?

I believe the business commu-nity is on board with the contin-ued growth of Williamson County, because that growth translates into increased prosperity for our

community and for our compa-nies, large and small. We know that 49 percent of Williamson County residents are not from Tennessee, so I believe that our community is receptive to people who move here for opportunity. People vote with their feet and move to communities that are thriving. Success follows success, and we have been very fortunate in Williamson County over the last several decades.

l If you could choose one goal/initiative you would like to see accomplished over the next 12 months that moves the county forward, what would it be?

To move closer to a short and long-term solution to ease traffic congestion in Williamson County in a way that connects to the Nashville region.

THE POINT l December 2015 Page 7

Page 8 THE POINT l December 2015

Recently opened Williamson businesses thrivingAsk any entrepreneur about

opening a business and they’ll tell you that it’s hard work. The count-less hours it takes to simply get to opening day can be a laborious process, but when the day finally happens, it’s a rewarding one. Williamson County has seen expo-nential growth, and residents and businesses are flocking here to get a piece of the prosperity.

Williamson County Mayor Rogers Anderson reported in his state of the county address in July that the county averaged 182 new business start-ups per month. In October, 142 new business licenses were filed and 1,604 year-to-date, according to the latest Economic Dashboard (see page 2). Among those new businesses that opened this year were several restaurants, bou-tiques, auto repair centers, insurance agencies, health and wellness facilities, beauty salons and barbershops, bakeries and banks, to name a few. Many of these businesses — 73 to be exact — turned to Williamson, Inc. to help make their presence known with a ribbon cutting cer-emony. Red, blue, yellow or gold — whatever ribbon color was snipped, Williamson, Inc. was there to capture their most important milestone.

For two of our Chamber members, opening a business was one of the best decisions they ever made. Primarily because of the success, growth and support they’ve experienced since recently opening their busi-nesses in Williamson County this past year. Dr. Ila Foster, a licensed chiropractor, opened Graceful Hands Chiropractic & Wellness Center in May and provides chiropractic, ther-apeutic rehabilitation and massage services to get patients functioning at optimal health. Kevin and Colleen Vanderkolk are the owners of Soar Adventure Tower, a 50-foot-tall, 10,000-square-foot aerial adventure park that opened in August. The Vanderkolks are the first to bring the popular European vertical ropes course to North America and chose Franklin to set up shop.

“The Point” caught up with Foster and Kevin Vanderkolk to get an update on how business has been since calling Williamson

County home.Since hosting your ribbon cut-

ting with Williamson, Inc., what response have you received from the community?

FOSTER: I was fortunate to meet many great people at my rib-bon cutting and received many well wishes afterwards. I have gained more exposure in the community

and formed several business rela-tionships with chamber members.

VANDERKOLK: The response from the community has been incredible. They have embraced our concept of a healthy and physi-cal activity that is engaging for all ages. Several chamber members have booked company outings and really enjoyed the experience.

How has business been since opening?

FOSTER: I am thankful that my business has grown each month. I am continuing to work and revise my plan for optimal growth.

VANDERKOLK: We have had a great start to our first few months of operation. We have enjoyed get-ting to know several of our repeat customers and local businesses that have joined us for some fun

company outings. Anything new or exciting happen

in the last three to six months?FOSTER: I have only been open

for eight months, so everything has been new and exciting!

VANDERKOLK: Every day is excit-ing when you are climbing at SOAR Adventure Tower but we have defi-nitely had some special moments.

We didn’t expect the outbursts of cheering, clapping, and support as people watched others climb and overcome the physical and mental challenges. We also just filmed a segment for CMT’s Southbound that will air some-time in December on the Country Music Television network.

Do you feel that locating to Williamson County was the right move for your business?

FOSTER: I am on the Davidson/Williamson County border and I strongly believe my location was the right move for my business. The location provides easy access to the res-idents of both counties. Many residents of Williamson County are very health conscious, and this impacts my practice because they are looking for preventative and wellness care that enables them to have healthier lifestyles.

VANDERKOLK: We could not have picked a better location than Williamson County for our first Adventure Tower. There are so many families and good peo-ple here that have been sup-

portive and make this feel like a small community.

What’s next for your company? FOSTER: As Graceful Hands

Chiropractic approaches its first anniversary, we will incorporate more tools which will allow us to provide better care to our patients. We will offer healthy lifestyle classes, expand our nutritional products, and incorporate more essential oils.

VANDERKOLK: The SOAR Adventure Tower experience will keep getting better and better as we are looking for ways to expand by adding additional elements and attractions to our Adventure Park.

Learn more about Graceful Hands Chiropractic & Wellness Center at gracefulhandschiro.com, and dis-cover what Soar Adventure Tower has to offer at soaradventure.com.

l @davidplazas MAR 31

How is Williamson County changing? http://tnne.ws/1CsAp5A via @tennessean @JillCowan #Outlook2015 #business #economics #tennessee

l @JohnKasich JUL 9

It was great visiting w/ @MattLargen, @Williamson_inc & @AllWaltrip today! Thx for hosting pic.twitter.com/8waLXn63dc

l @Williamson_inc JUL 14 Williamson, Inc. issues statement in support of WCS Superintendent Dr. Mike Looney: http://bit.ly/1fFFIrX @WCSedu @wcsDirofSchools

l @WCSedu AUG 18 Thank you to all of the administrators who joined us at today’s @williamson_inc meeting! pic.twitter.com/1JD2X15jf8

l @CollinReports AUG 28

Williamson County magnet for new businesses http://tnne.ws/1F220Ku via @tennessean @CollinReports cc: @williamson_inc

l @williamson_inc OCT 2

Fairview HS kids at #APCOM. 1 of 3 tour stops today #MFGDay15 @wcsCOda @wcsFVHS pic.twitter.com/PMhgrcFxQb

l @martiveot OCT 2

Williamson Forward: Expedition Austin https://storify.com/williamson_inc/ williamson-forward-expedition-austin … via @williamson_inc @wcar had a great time with these progressive leaders!!

l @AbbyFBass OCT 16

Incredibly successful week!! S/O to the @williamson_inc team for #YP CEO Roundtable, #NABC, Franklin Election Forum & @YPNashville Connect!

l @NSHBIZSichko OCT 21

@williamson_inc’s pitch to site selectors (who make splashy eco devo deals) included @SherylCrow & hot air balloons http://bizj.us/1jsjog

l @WCSedc OCT 26

@williamson_inc donates technology funds to three Nolensville schools! Read: http://www.wcs.edu/infocus/2015/10/22/ new-nolensville-area-schools-receive- technology-donations/ …

l @BurginJill NOV 19

Enjoyed meeting @TnCommishECD Randy Boyd at @williamson_inc annual meeting. Thanks for helping celebrate WillCo success. #celebratewilco

Kevin and Colleen Vanderkolk have already climbed to new heights since opening Soar Adventure Tower in August.

Dr. Ila Foster is the owner of Graceful Hands Chiropractic & Wellness Center in Brentwood, where she aims to have healthy patients and a healthy business.

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