CEO OF THE YEAR
Join us as we honor the top bosses of 2020
Inside Memphis Business is celebrating its 2020 CEO of the Year honorees on Thursday, February 20, 2020.
The top leaders are Dr. James Downing of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in the 1000+ employees category, George Hernandez of Campbell Clinic (200-1000 employees), William J. “Will” Chase, Jr. of Triumph Bank (50-200 employees), and Briggette Green of TopCat Masonry Contractors, LLC (up to 50 employees).
Memphis is graced with tremendously talented, inspiring executives in charge of their companies and organizations and these exceptional leaders are setting standards of success in healthcare, banking, and construction.
> Dr. Downing, president and CEO of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, oversees an organization that blends clinical care with scientific research using a nonprofit operational model. He created a $7 billion, six-year strategy for accelerating cures for cancer and other childhood diseases.
> Mr. Hernandez is CEO of Campbell Clinic Orthopaedics and executive director of the Campbell Foundation. He is overseeing construction of a new 120,000 square-foot four-story medical facility, equipped with more physical therapy and imaging suites, eight new outpatient surgery rooms, and state-of-the-art medical technology while creating 185 new jobs over the next three years.
> Mr. Chase is president, CEO and founding board member of Triumph Bank (founded 2005) and has 37 years of commercial and retail banking experience in the region, with a focus on building relationships within the community.
> Ms. Green of TopCat Masonry Contractors, a first generation, family owned and operated company, has co-founded TAP Apprenticeship Program with two other construction companies in order to bring awareness and help prospects earn a living wage while developing a life-long skill set.
Our awards breakfast will honor these four CEOs and will include remarks by Jack Soden of Elvis Presley Enterprises, one of the winners from last year.
The presenting sponsor of CEO of the Year is eBiz Solutions. A breakfast honoring the leaders will be on February 20, 2020 at Hardin Hall at the Memphis Botanic Garden. Tickets are $25 per person and include breakfast. Tables of 10 are available for $200, a savings of 20 percent. Get tickets here.
NEWS FROM OTHER SOURCES
> Memphis Bus Riders’ Union official discusses transit funding and other challenges. Read Maya Smith's story in the Memphis Flyer here.
> Wayne Risher takes a look at Memphis International Airport's plans for 2020. Read his story in the Daily Memphian here.
> UTHSC mulls raising tuition to cover deferred maintenance while trimming workforce. Read the story in The Commercial Appeal here.
> Allegiant is adding four new nonstops from Memphis International Airport. Read Corey Davis' story in the Memphis Business Journal here.
> River City Capital Investment, an affiliate of Community Lift, was awarded $225,000 from the U.S. Department of Treasury for community development. Read the story in the New Tri-State Defender here.
UPCOMING
> Need to know what to do this weekend? Check out Memphis magazine's Five Things To Do This Weekend here.
> Martin Luther King Jr. Day at the National Civil Rights Museum on January 20th offers extended hours (8 a.m. to 6 p.m.) and free admission. There will be seminars on voting and the upcoming U.S. Census as well as performances, activities for children, contests, prizes, and more. More info is here.
> Let's Brunch Memphis, hosted by the Memphis Flyer, is Saturday, March 28th, from 12pm-3pm at Beale Street Landing. More info here.
THE HOT SHEET
Who's getting promoted? Who's closing big deals? Who's getting awards? Inside Memphis Business magazine's Hot Sheet has the latest on milestones in Memphis.
> New Ballet Ensemble & School received a grant of $85,000 from The Hearst Foundations of New York to support the Pathways Program, which provides dance training for students in low-income neighborhoods.
> The Society for Information Management Memphis Chapter announced its 2020 board of directors, including Peter Kim (president), Jeff Wilhelmy (vice-president), and Amy Fortune (membership chair). The full member list can be found here.
> State Systems Inc. acquired Columbia, Tennessee-based Fire-Tek.> Sedgwick has acquired G&E Enterprises that will allow the company to provide expanded services in advanced data management.> Baker Donelson added four attorneys to its Memphis office: Pete A. Brunson (advocacy), Andrew Roach (advocacy), Nathan Simpson (corporate finance & securities), and Victoria E. Young (advocacy).> Jenna McDonald Nichols (pictured) joined Thomas, White & Gill as an attorney.POWER PLAYER
Inside Memphis Business magazine publishes a list of local Power Players every year. These are the movers and shakers in more than 30 categories who get things done in their respective fields. IMB’s April issue has the complete list. We also publish individual categories in other issues throughout the year, and we feature individual Power Players in our weekly Tip Sheet.
This week’s Power Player is Dan Weddle, CEO, ProTech Systems Group, Inc. B.B.A., U of M. Firm offers talent acquisition, technology consulting, managed/cloud services. Company named 2016 Cisco South Partner of the Year.
Recipient, 2013 and 2014 Torch Award, Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Memphis; 2015 National Medallion Award & National Award of Merit, Boys & Girls Clubs of America. Firm is technology partner and supporter of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Memphis. Board experience includes Streets Ministries, ESMOC CDC Inc. and the Greater Memphis IT Council. Leadership Memphis Executive Program, 2017.
For the complete list of Inside Memphis Business Power Players, go here.
QUOTABLE
“We want to look at public-private partnerships to develop some things around the terminal core. Entrance road travel plaza, gas station, convenience store, possibly some fast food over by the cell phone lot, get a 3P (public-private partnership) to do that so we don’t have to spend the money where we can bring the benefit to the traveling public.”
— Memphis airport president and chief executive Scott Brockman in his annual review and 2020 outlook. Quoted in the Daily Memphian.
