We kicked off Thursday’s workday with a fantastic Business Before Hours event at the Holiday Inn Express & Suites Lebanon! Guests enjoyed a delicious complimentary breakfast while networking with fellow Chamber members in a relaxed environment.
These events offer a great way to connect, and today was no exception! With a packed-room, it was a wonderful opportunity for new members to introduce themselves and share more about their businesses. We love seeing our members come together and build strong professional relationships.
Today’s Chamber Pot drawing was valued at $250, with Cumberland University was drawn as the winner. Unfortunately, no representatives were present to claim the prize, which means the Chamber Pot will now increase to $275 for our next event! Remember, you must be present to win!
A big thank you to Holiday Inn Express & Suites for hosting, providing fantastic door prizes for our members, and for your active involvement in the Lebanon Wilson County Chamber of Commerce since 2008! We appreciate everyone who attended, and we look forward to seeing you at our next Business Before/After Hours networking event!
Earlier this year our Chamber and Ambassadors embarked on a journey to visit 100 members in 100 business days, to celebrate our 100th anniversary. We are happy to announce that we have officially completed our goal at the beautiful Cedars of Lebanon State Park. Completing our 100th visit with such an amazing organization makes this achievement even more special. This huge milestone is another testament to the diverse community we serve.
Friends of Cedars of Lebanon State Park is a non profit volunteer organization that was founded in 2014. Their mission is to promote conservation and education in support of the Park and to assist its efforts to preserve and protect the many natural, cultural and scenic features. Thank you to Ranger Sarah Geeslin, Friends of Cedars of Lebanon President Renee Morris and staff for allowing us to stop by!
Cedars of Lebanon State Park is located in Wilson County and is surrounded by the Cedars of Lebanon State Forest. The park is named for eastern red cedar trees found throughout the area. The trees reminded early American settlers of the famed Biblical cedar forests that thrived across Mount Lebanon in what is now the Mediterranean area. Cedars of Lebanon became a state park in 1955.
The 1,139-acre park has 117 campsites equipped with picnic tables and grills, and electric and water hookups. A modern group lodge, open year-round for organized groups, has a total sleeping capacity of 80 people.
We have many more visits to share with you in the coming weeks. Thank you to all of the members, businesses and organizations that have welcomed us on this journey! Here’s to 100 more years of connecting with our community!
The Chamber had the pleasure of visiting another local business that has made a significant impact on our community. Today, we shine a spotlight on EXIT Rocky Top Realty-C & D Team. This team is more than just a real estate agency — they are passionate about selling you not only a home but also the community that comes with it! They are adept at assisting in relocation, ensuring families find the right school for their children and connecting new residents with essential business and healthcare providers. Their dedication to integrating new residents into our community is truly unmatched.
Judy Cox, a lifelong resident of Wilson County, brings invaluable local knowledge and experience to her clients and Chamber members. She is a Lifetime Member of our Chamber, showcasing her long-standing commitment to our community. Judy and Medana Hemontolor have both served on the Chamber’s Board of Directors for several years. Judy, Medana and Diana Cavender are active members of our Chamber Ambassadors Program. Their presence is a staple at member Ribbon Cuttings and networking events, where they consistently show their support for our community. We are so thankful for these three ladies whose active involvement help make our community a better place.
Here’s to celebrating not only our 100th anniversary, but also the members who have helped us reach this milestone!
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.
Our celebration cake continues to make its way through Wilson County! REI is a specialty outdoor retailer, with a state-of-the-art distribution center located right here in Lebanon, Tennessee. As the nation’s largest consumer co-op, REI is a growing community of over 24 million members who expect and love the best quality gear, inspiring expert classes and trips, and outstanding customer service. The new distribution center serves more than 60 stores and 5.6 million REI members in the area.
The facility’s design focuses on enhancing the connection employee’s have to nature with “trails” worn into the concrete floors, wood siding from a decommissioned barn installed in the atrium and furniture, and handrails repurposed from trees removed from the property prior to construction. The co-op is also completing a habitat restoration project across the 41-acre property, which will soon feature a trail for walking and biking!
REI is located at 1400 Murfreesboro Rd, Lebanon, TN 37090 (Hwy 231 headed towards Cedars of Lebanon)
REI staff pictured: Charles Dwyer – Operations Manager, Danielle Riendeau – Senior Administrative Assistant, and Brandon Sather – Inbound Manager
Stephanie Hollis – Chamber Support Admin, Lyn Williams – Ambassador Vice-Chair, and Ambassadors Diana Cavender & Debbie Moss are also pictured
Thank you to Sherrye A Clem with ExtensisHR for stopping by for a member visit! We are so appreciative of your continued support of our Chamber. Sherrye was voted by her peers as the May Ambassador of the Month. Sherrye is a regular face at new business Ribbon Cuttings, she has been a guest speaker for several Chamber events, and has hosted Business After Hours at our office.
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About ExtensisHR:
We take responsibility for your HR challenges, and our expert consultants help deliver on your goals through an emphasis on constant improvement.
At ExtensisHR, we’re results-oriented, so we settle for nothing less than success. Once we commit to your company, everything we do is driven by our integrity and innate desire to help you do more for your employees.
Thank you to our friends at Liberty State Bank for letting us stop by for a visit as we continue to celebrate a century as a Chamber!
The Liberty State Bank team is incredibly involved in our Chamber and we are so gratful for their active contributions.
Liberty State Bank employees pictured, left to right:
Kaylee Vonstorch – Teller
Jessica Brummett – Mortgage Loan Originator
Leah Petty – Office Manager & Lender
Jake Sloan – Loan Portfolio Manager
Chris Crowell – Commercial Lender
Amanda Morales – Customer Service Representative
Notably, Chris Crowell served as the Chamber’s Chairman of the Board in 2012. Jake Sloan has been an active member since 2019 and is a proud supporter of the Wilson County Sports Council annual events. Jessica Brummett serves on the Wilson Books from Birth Imagination Dinner Committee which supports childhood literacy.
Liberty State Bank has been a member of our Chamber since 1974. The branch located at 214 N Cumberland St has been a member since 2015. The building, located off the historic Lebanon Square, has been continuously used as a bank longer than any other existing financial institution in Lebanon! The team at this location specifically has over 50 years of banking experience collectively. Liberty State Bank offers a range of services from commercial and consumer lending, to deposit accounts and mortgage lending.
Welcome Judy Hughes, Realtor with Coldwell Banker Barnes to our Chamber family! With over 25 years of experience, Judy brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to her team.
Judy is a New Construction Specialist and Graduate, REALTOR® Institute (GRI). Born and raised in Wilson County, she has deep-rooted knowledge of our area that enhances her ability to serve clients effectively. Within her industry, Judy has been a consecutive Multi-Million Dollar Producer for over 30 years.
We are so excited to have Judy join our Chamber community and look forward to the positive impact she will make as a member of the Lebanon Wilson County Chamber of Commerce.
We were thrilled to see a packed room, yesterday, filled with both new inquiries and existing members, for Membership Orientation!
Orientation is a must-attend event that provides a valuable opportunity to connect over lunch and explore how our Chamber can help your business thrive. During the session, we discussed our numerous networking opportunities, introduced our seven Chamber Divisions, highlighted many upcoming special events, and explored the free benefits associated with membership.
Orientation is always a true embodiment of our motto: Connect. Grow. Belong. We are excited to see the connections and growth that will come from this meeting. Thank you to everyone who attended! If you missed it, stay tuned for our next Orientation in August and discover how you can maximize your Chamber membership!
Member Engagement Division is chaired by Ian Isbell, who also led Orientation. Chamber President & CEO Melanie Minter, Ja’Rob Coggins – Board Chair, and James Danella – Economic Development Division Vice-Chair joined the presentation.
Guests Included:
Clark Fitzgerald – Centerwell Senior Primary Care
Lou Anne Snyder – Agee & Johnson Reality & Auction
Meet our new member, Danielle, with Cedar City Title!
Cedar City Title is a locally owned and operated, full service Title and Escrow Company. Danielle began her professional career in Title and Escrow, then went on to become a licensed Real Estate Agent. With more than seven years in the industry she knows her passion is serving her client’s needs directly with Title and Escrow Services.
As we continue out 100 Member Visits, we are proud to include Cedar City Title in our growing network of businesses. We are so happy to welcome Danielle and Cedar City Title as a new member and look forward to a prosperous partnership.
Cedar City Title is located at 115 E Main St B, Lebanon, TN 37087
