The Lebanon Wilson County Chamber of Commerce Annual Membership Meeting & Awards Celebration was held February 2, 2017 at the new Wilson County Exposition Center.  Members were welcomed by Chamber Ambassadors, staff and Board of Directors. Annual awards were presented to local businesses, organizations and community leaders.

Those recognized at the annual membership meeting and awards celebration were:

  Business Person Of The Year –  Bob Black

   Industrialist Of The Year –Manheim – Sam Chaple

   Corporate Friend Of Education –   Chick-Fil-A : Carlton Beall

   Friend Of Education –  Cumberland University

   Tapped By Tourism –  Tony Bates

   The Lebanon Wilson County Sports Council Award –  Ron Pavan

   Ambassador Of The Year – Betty Fleming

   Volunteer Of The Year – Diana Cavender

Retailer Of The Year –  Ed & Glenda Riley

The Cedar Tree Awards Were Established In 1983 By The Beautification Committee Of The Chamber Of Commerce To Encourage And Recognize Property Owners Or Leaseholders Who Excel In Preserving Or Improving The Physical Environment Of Wilson County. Those recognized for 2017 are:

1.            The Best new professional or commercial building, completed this year: Tennessee Orthopedics

2.            The Best structure converted to a commercial use or significant structural addition or  restoration of a commercial or professional building completed this year: Cumberland Animal Hospital

3.            The Best improvement of land usage to enhance the areas aesthetic or quality of life completed this year:  The Wilson County Exposition Center

4.            The Best restoration or preservation of a historical site:  Venue 142

Special Awards were presented to Dr. Jim Newman for newly renovated offices at  Newman Dental & Associates and Bates Ford for their newly Renovated showroom and service department.

Special Recognition were given to First United Methodist Church for their Columbarium and Memorial Garden. A visible sign of the church caring for it’s members from birth until eternal life.

Julie Wilson and Heather at Body Kneads, Etc. were recognized for  winning the Rising Star Award.  Body Kneads has been a proud member of the Lebanon Wilson Chamber since 2010. The Rising Star award is given annually by the Tennessee Small Business Development Center to the company that best exemplifies not only business success, but an outstanding working relationship with the TSBDC and use of the services it provides.

The Lebanon Wilson County Chamber of Commerce celebrates your success!

Wilson County Exposition Center hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony conducted by the Lebanon Wilson County Chamber of Commerce on January 20 at 4:00 p.m.

Charity Toombs was joined by Wilson County Mayor Randall Hutto, Lebanon Mayor Bernie Ash, Watertown Mayor Mike Jennings, Lebanon Wilson County Chamber of Commerce President Melanie Minter, Lebanon Wilson County Chamber of Commerce Vice President Andrea Wilke, and Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors.

The new exposition center is located at 945 East Baddour Parkway, Lebanon TN 37087

For more information visit http://www.wilsoncountyexpo.com/

Sweet Cece’s held a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony on December 9th. They specialize in frozen desserts and also have an arrangement of other treats and toppings. They are located at 224 W. Main Street, Suite F in Lebanon. For more information, their website is http://www.sweetceces.com/locations/lebanon-tn/ and Facebook is https://www.facebook.com/sweetceceslebanon/

Sweet Cece’s Lebanon owner Claire Chaffin is joined by: Lebanon Wilson County Chamber Chairman Scott Jasper, Lebanon Wilson County Chamber President Melanie Minter, Lebanon Wilson County Chamber Vice President of Operations Andrea Wilke, City of Lebanon Mayor Bernie Ash, and Chamber Ambassadors and Representatives.

New Leash On Life held a Groundbreaking Ceremony for its new spay/neuter clinic, conducted by the Lebanon Wilson County Chamber of Commerce, on Friday, September 23. The new 2,500-square-foot Joy Clinic will be next to the existing New Leash on Life facility on Jim Draper Boulevard and offer spay and neuter services to more than 100 animals per week, said Executive Director Angela Chapman.
New Leash on Life currently operates a mobile spay/neuter clinic and sees approximately 20 to 40 animals a week.

Angela Chapman, Director at New Leash On Life, was joined by Wilson County Commissioner and sole donor for the project, Joy Bishop, New Leash On Life Representatives, City Mayor Philip Craighead, Chamber of Commerce Chairman of the Board Scott Jasper, President Melanie Minter, Ambassadors and staff.
For more information please visit www.newleashonline.org

The Lebanon Wilson County Chamber of Commerce Economic Development Committee held their annual Industry Appreciation Day on September 15, recognizing LoJac Inc., and their commitment and service to the community. Chamber Chair-Elect Jud Nave opened ceremonies by welcoming LoJac executives and employees, local dignitaries, and Chamber members and staff.

LoJac Inc. was founded in 1983 by B.F. (Jack) Lowery and Donald G. Chambers. LoJac Inc. provides high-quality services and materials to the construction industry throughout the Southeast. Some of their services include grading, production and placement of asphalt pavement, sign fabrication and installation, and concrete paving and rehabilitation. They also produce and supply a wide range of high-quality masonry products such as block, brick, stone and sand. LoJac has been involved in many unique projects, including shopping centers, airport runways, and major private projects.

Members of the Economic Development Committee got the opportunity to talk to the executive staff about the business and its history while employees enjoyed lunch from Honeybaked Ham Co. The Chamber would like to extend a special thank you to CedarStone Bank for sponsoring the event held at LoJac Materials located at 1401 Toshiba Drive, Lebanon.

Sammy B’s Restaurant hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony September 9, 2016, at 4:00 p.m.

Owners Jim and Gina Stradley, were joined by representatives of Sammy B’s, friends and family, Mayor Philip Craighead, Lebanon Wilson County Chamber of Commerce Chair-Elect of the Board Judd Nave, Chamber of Commerce President Melanie Minter, Chamber Ambassadors and Staff.

Located at 705 Cadet Court, Sammy B’s offers a “dining concept of tasteful surroundings and friendly staff”, in a building rich with history, originally serving as the home of the president of Castle Heights Military Academy.

For more information visit https://www.facebook.com/sammybstn.

Maplehurst Bakeries held a ribbon cutting ceremony and grand opening August 31, 2016 for its Lebanon facility. Plant manager, Mike Jones, said the facility currently employs 95 people and that most of those employees are Wilson County residents.

Maplehurst Bakeries produces frozen bakery products for in-store and food-service bakeries. The new location features warehouse, distribution and manufacturing operations and services customers across North America.

Cindy Waggoner, vice president of operations of Weston Foods North America and Mike Jones, plant manager were joined by State Representative Mark Pody, Wilson County Mayor Randall Hutto, City Mayor Philip Craighead, Lebanon Wilson County Chamber of Commerce President Melanie Minter, Chamber Ambassadors and Staff.

Wilson County Promotions and the Lebanon Wilson County Chamber of Commerce hosted their annual Business Before Hours in Fiddlers Grove on Tuesday, August 23, 2016. Wilson County Fair officials presented their annual Old Timers Award to this year’s recipients, Dan and Vondie Smith.

The Smiths have been married for 54 years. They were both raised on family farms. Dan works his 360-acre farm raising beef cattle. They agree the life of a farmer can be tough but also very rewarding.

Together they have accumulated 213 years of serving on various community boards. Some of those are Agriculture Farmers Conservation, Middle Tennessee Electric Coop. Young Farmers & Homemakers, Wilson County Livestock Association and many more.

Vondie has served on numerous bank boards. She began her banking career at Commerce Union Bank and working in banking for 54 years. She was a financial adviser to many people. She is also known for helping people pay their bills when they needed a helping hand.

Dan was a charter member of the Farmers Coop. He was serving on the Board when land was purchased for a new building. They built the fertilizer plant first. When they had sold enough stock, they built the building.

Dan and Vondie have served the people pf the community to make it a better place to work and live. Dan said, “He has been as nice to people as he knows how in everything he has done and hopes he has made a difference for the people he has served.”

 In addition to having their names added to a plaque that will remain at the fairgrounds, Old Timers award recipients are presented with rocking chairs courtesy of Cracker Barrel Old Country Store. 

 For more information on attending or hosting the Chamber’s next Business Before/After Hours, contact the Chamber office at 615-444-5503.  

Vision Realty Partners, LLC, hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony conducted by the Lebanon Wilson County Chamber of Commerce on Thursday, August 11, 2016, at 11:00 a.m.

Owner and managing broker Tod Southworth and wife Betty were joined by friends, Vision Realty Partners Realtors, State Representative Mark Pody, Mayor Philip Craighead, Lebanon Wilson County Chamber of Commerce Chairman of the Board Scott Jasper, Chamber of Commerce President Melanie Minter, Chamber Ambassadors and Staff.

Vision Realty Partners’ new Lebanon location at 125 North castle Heights Avenue, Suite B, is a satellite of the main office in Mt. Juliet which has grown to 63 agents. “We are committed to working with and supporting new agents and want to be a big presence in Wilson County”, Southworth said.

For more information call (615) 547-2929.