On Thursday, November 7, the Lebanon Wilson County Chamber of Commerce had the honor of conducting a Ribbon Cutting ceremony on the patio of Cumberland University’s Catron Alumni House to celebrate the launch of Stage Local — a new performing arts company in Lebanon, TN.
Born from a simple “what if?” conversation between two best friends, Stage Local aims to make the arts accessible and fun for everyone — regardless of experience. Offering theatrical productions, classes, camps, and more, Stage Local provides opportunities for all ages to engage in the arts while fostering collaboration between artists, business leaders, and the community.
We are excited to welcome Stage Local to Wilson County and look forward to their debut production of The Sound of Music and their future contributions to our local arts scene!
Pictured with Beth Harrison, Founder/ CEO and Sarah Collins, Co-Founder of Stage Local are friends and family. Lebanon Wilson County Chamber of Commerce President & CEO Melanie Minter, Support Admin Stephanie Hollis and Chamber Ambassadors are also pictured.
On November 7, the Lebanon Wilson County Chamber of Commerce staff and Board of Directors made a special trip to Nashville to visit the State Capitol in celebration of our 100th Anniversary. It was a historic day for our Chamber as we received a Resolution at the state level, following the Proclamations delivered at the city and county levels earlier this year.
We had the pleasure of meeting with Representative Clark Boyd and Senator Mark Pody, who graciously took us on a tour of both the House of Representatives and Senate Chambers. It was an incredible experience to witness firsthand where important decisions are made for our state and community.
In addition, we were honored to meet Governor Bill Lee, who took the time to congratulate our Chamber on 100 years of success and service to the business community. He expressed his appreciation for the vital role a Chamber of Commerce plays in supporting local businesses and recognized some of our recent achievements. We are incredibly grateful for his kind words and for the recognition of our Chamber’s impact.
Thank you to everyone who has been a part of our journey!
Business Before Hours was held at the Wilson County Fair – TN State Fair this morning. This special Business Before Hours was hosted by the Lebanon Wilson County Chamber of Commerce and Wilson County Promotions at the Event Pavilion.
During the event, the annual Ole Timers Awards were presented by Helen McPeak, on behalf of Wilson County Promotions. In addition to having their names added to a plaque that will remain at the Fairgrounds, Ole Timers Award recipients were presented with rocking chairs courtesy of Cracker Barrel Old Country Store. Dallas & Lillian Plumlee, Joyce Sampson, and Odell & Linda Bain were recipients of the 2024 Ole Timers awards.
Wilson County Promotions President Randall Clemons presented the Mike Baker Award during the breakfast to recipient Bob Rochelle. This annual award recognizes business professionals in Wilson County who have gone above and beyond in their support of the annual Fair and in service to the community. The award is given in memory of Mike Baker, longtime chairman of the Fair’s Great Give-Away Committee.
Christopher Cooley was awarded the Mike Baker Scholarship. This scholarship is a one-time $1,500.00 scholarship sponsored by Wilson Bank & Trust, Wilson County Promotions and Lebanon Wilson County Chamber of Commerce, to be matched by Cumberland University and awarded to transferring or returning full-time students at Cumberland University. Students must have a minimum 3.0/4.0 GPA. The scholarship was presented in July by Lebanon Wilson County Chamber of Commerce President & CEO Melanie Minter, Helen McPeak on behalf of Wilson County Promotions, and DeJeay Woods who represented the Chamber’s Education Division and Wilson Bank & Trust. Cooley was recognized again at Business Before Hours this morning.
Business Before Hours included several door prizes provided by Wilson County Promotions, and as always, the Chamber Pot drawing. All Chamber members are entered into the Pot to be drawn during the event. You must be present to win. If the first person is not present, we will draw a second time for half the original value. If the second person is not present, the value goes up $25 for the NEXT Business Before or After Hours. The August 20th Chamber Pot was valued at $375. The first name, drawn by Lillian Plumlee, was not present. Wesley Works, LLC was drawn second – owner Wesley Flatt was present to claim!
Minter welcomed guests to the Business Before Hours. Jackie Bullard, Ms. Wilson County; Cheryl Lewis, Ms. Senior Wilson County; and Luci Rose Coay, Fairest of the Fair led the Pledge of Allegiance and assisted in awards. Lyndon LaFevers, member of the Wilson County Fair – TN State Fair Executive Board, led the group in a prayer. Clemons annouced that the Fair has had over 390K attendees so far this year, and a record number of attendees over the weekend.
The Lebanon Wilson County Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, Staff and Ambassadors traveled throughout the county to welcome our Wilson County Schools teachers and administrators back for a new school year! Thank you to everyone who came out to help us recognize the schools and teachers that create a positive impact and enrich the lives of children in our community.
Congratulations to Carl Bott and his team at Legacy Photo Company on their Ribbon Cutting last night! Legacy Photo Company hosted the ceremony and Open House Luau at their new office in the Chamber building. The ceremony was conducted by the Lebanon Wilson County Chamber of Commerce.
Legacy Photo Company is a high-volume photography studio in Lebanon, TN. Carl and his team are dedicated to offering you the highest quality service and photography experience by taking all the hassle of photo day off of your shoulders. They specialize in capturing stunning images for sports teams, schools, and dance studios — with a mission to deliver unforgettable experiences and amazing photography.
Guests were greeted with colorful leis, setting the perfect tone for a tropical celebration. Open House included complimentary headshots, 360 photo booth, and a chance to meet the team!
Legacy team: Carl Bott, Danielle Powell, Ryan Lee, and Sophia Santucci
Legacy Photo Company is located at 149 Public Square, Lebanon, TN 37087
Pictured with Legacy Photo Company owner Carl Bott are staff, family and friends. Chamber President & CEO Melanie Minter, VP Membership & Finance Andrea Wilke, Ambassadors and representatives are also pictured.
We visited Witt Sign Co., Inc. as we continued visiting 100 businesses this year. This business has been a pillar of our community for over a century and a Chamber member for over 60 years.
The following excerpt is taken from page 48 of our 100-Year Anniversary Chamber magazine. Magazines are available at the Chamber Office for those interested in the rich history of our Chamber and community members like Witt Sign Company.
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Witt Sign Company was established in 1922 and over the last century has changed ownership only once. The business, started by Russell Witt Sr., was passed down to his son, Russell Witt Jr., and in May of 2022 it was purchased by Toby and Vickie Vaughn.
“Russell Witt Sr. passed away when Russell Jr. was young. His wife, Ruth Witt, took over the business. She operated the company until Russell Jr. was old enough to take over as owner of Witt Sign Company,” Vaughn shared, noting that Mrs. Witt continued to work in the Witt office for many years. Russell Jr. worked until days before he passed away. “They were a hardworking and dedicated family.”
Vickie Vaughn currently serves as vice president of the company – which employs five, including herself and her husband. The Vaughn family has been in the sign industry for three generations. Toby worked for his father’s sign company starting at the age of 16. The Vaughns also own General Sign Services. Their son, Tucker, works for GSS. Over the years, Toby and Vickie have worked hand-in-hand with Witt Sign Company doing subcontract work.
When Mr. Witt passed away in August 2021, his daughters managed the company before the Vaughns purchased it the following year. “We wanted to maintain the name, the reputation and the history. Witt Sign Company has been in business for almost 102 years. We wanted to continue to provide quality signs and services to the area under the Witt name,” Vaughn said. “We had to keep the business rolling and not let it disappear.”
Vaughn added that it was important for people to know the history of the business and the hard work that has gone into it. The Vaughns plan for their son to eventually take over General Sign Services, while they focus on Witt Sign Company.
Witt Sign Company provides services of design, engineering, manufacturing, installation, maintenance and leasing across Middle Tennessee, as well as parts of Kentucky, northern Georgia, Mississippi and Alabama. For more information or to view their gallery, visit wittsigns.com.
We journeyed through time at the Chamber’s 100-Year Mixer, as both board rooms were brimmed with a century’s worth of history and cherished memorabilia. This was such a special occasion where members, Past Presidents, Board Members, and retired staff came together to celebrate a century of growth & prosperity.
Walking through both levels of the Chamber, guests were transported back in time, reliving moments that shaped our Chamber and our community. From vintage photographs, the very first meeting minutes in 1924, to years of artifacts that tell our story, each item represented the legacy of the Lebanon Wilson County Chamber of Commerce.
Thank you to everyone who has played a vital role in the Chamber’s success. We wouldn’t have made it to 100 Years without you.
We would like to extend a special thank you to our Mixer Committee for planning and preparing our office for this event.
Our beautiful charcuterie table & appetizers were prepared by Gina Stradley, owner of Sammy B’s Restaurant
We had a magical evening at the 17th Annual Imagination Dinner held last night at the Farm Bureau Exposition Center. Thank you to everyone who joined us in making a difference for children in our community by supporting our cause. Your contributions will go a long way by providing the gift of free books to children from birth until 5 years old.
We loved seeing the creativity unfold as guests selected their group theme, decorated their tables and dressed accordingly. Themes ranged from the Magic School Bus to One Hunrded and One Dalmations.
Each group selected one person to be their “Wacky Waiter” for the evening. Their antics and dedication earned tips for everything, from silverware to drink refills, all in the spirit of fundraising & fun. This year, we added an extra layer of fun to the Wacky Waiter format: a competition where the waiter with the most tips was awarded a trophy. It is easy to spot the winner in these pictures!
The evening would not have been complete without our live & silent autions. Thank you to everyone who contributed, placed bids and helped make the auctions a success. Some of our featured auction items were a 4 Night Stay to Runaway on 30A donated by Kenny Sallis & Kellie Sallis, delicious cheesecake made by Judge Barry Tatum, and Dinner for 6 from Wildberry Cafe & Catering.
April French, owner of The Oasis Healing Lounge and Hair Studio, hosted a Ribbon Cutting at her new hair studio. The ceremony was conducted by the Lebanon Wilson County Chamber of Commerce.
The Oasis was created to help people feel comfortable and confident within themselves. This is a place to help heal their personal insecurities and to find inner peace within the soul or just a place where you can go to be alone to escape everyday life for a while. The Oasis is the ONLY SCALP SPA in Wilson County!
Pictured with The Oasis owner April French, is her mother-in-law, Chamber Ambassadors, and Chamber President & CEO Melanie Minter.
Ribbon Cuttings are sponsored by Lyn Williams, Edward Jones Financial Advisor
