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.

S.S. Graham Florals, Interiors and Events, Inc., hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony conducted by the Lebanon Wilson County Chamber of Commerce on Thursday, July 28, 2016, at 4:30 p.m.

Owner S. Scott Graham was joined by friends, Lebanon Wilson County Chamber of Commerce Chairman of the Board Scott Jasper, President Melanie Minter, Ambassadors and Staff.

Located at The Mill at Lebanon, S.S. Graham Florals, Interiors and Events, Inc. offers one-of-a-kind arrangements for a variety of interiors and events.

For more information call (615) 443-3366 or visit the shop in The Mill at Lebanon.

Next Step Resource Center held a ribbon cutting on July 22, 2016, at 11:30 a.m. Located at 100 Mabry Court, the 4,800 square foot facility will serve an estimated 20 to 30 people per day from 19 counties. Among other services, the center provides clothing, housing, transportation and job and life-skill training to those in need.

Founding Executive Director Julie Hadlock was joined by representatives of The Next Step Resource Center, friends, Mayor Philip Craighead, Chamber Chairman of the Board, Scott Jasper, Chamber President, Melanie Minter, Chamber staff and Ambassadors.

For further information please contact the center at 615-547-9999. 

Cook’s Pest Control celebrated the opening of the company’s new Lebanon, TN office at 1215 South Hartmann Drive. The Lebanon Wilson County Chamber of Commerce hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the 9,159 square-foot facility on July 8.

Brian Cook, Chief Administration Officer, Jo Cook, and Joel Kendzierski, district manager of Cook’s Nashville Northeast, were joined by representatives of Cook’s Pest Control, friends, State Representative Mark Pody, Mayor Philip Craighead, Chamber Chairman of the Board, Scott Jasper, Chamber President, Melanie Minter, Chamber staff and Ambassadors.

“We are very excited to move into our new location,” said Joel Kendzierski. “Cook’s Pest Control has been growing steadily in the Nashville area, and this new facility will give us the opportunity to have a more prominent presence in the area and to better serve our customers. We really look forward to becoming part of the neighborhood.”

Visit www.CooksPest.com to learn more about Cook’s Pest Control.

On Thursday, May 12, 2016, Elmcroft Senior Living in Lebanon hosted a Business After Hours presented by the Lebanon Wilson County Chamber of Commerce. Guests were treated to conversation, live music, dinner and drinks catered by the Elmcroft cafeteria.

Elmcroft of Lebanon is an intimate, senior living community desgned to provide optimal comfort, care and privacy. Elmcroft is located at 801 West Main Street, Lebanon.

For more information please visit or call 615-847-8982.