Annual Banquet Recap

Board Member of the Year: Kerry Speer

Commercial Sales Manager for the Messenger – 16 years

He enjoys Fishing, hunting, kayaking, aerial and outdoor photography - anything outdoors!

Kerry encourages everyone to see if a local vendor might have the products or services needed prior to purchasing out of our area.

One of his favorite sayings: It is cheaper for a company to keep and make a client happy than it is to replace them.

You Made It Happen: The Station Burger Co.

The “You Made It Happen Award” is given to a business owner or manager who best exemplifies their generosity in giving time, money, staff, and/or facility for community benefit. The winners of this award were Rodney and Pam Gregg, owners of The Station Burger Company.

They have raised money for Chimes for Charity and the local hometown walk of hope, donated food to local schools, and sponsor the local pink out game.

They treat their employees like family and feed our local heroes on multiple occasions. They chose to invest and open their restaurant in Downtown Union City to help strengthen our local economy and give back daily to the men and women who serve or have served our country.

Small Business of the Year: Don Sol Mexican Grill

Don Sol Mexican Grill is known for more than just their food, they are known for their contributions to our community and our school systems. For the three years Don Sol has been in Obion County, they have held fundraisers to support our Local Hometown Walk of Hope, raised money for 6 individual scholarships awarded to local high school seniors, and held nights where they donate their proceeds to local sports teams and invest in our youth.

Attention to detail and customer service. They have always gone above and beyond with customer service. They also actively help promote other restaurants such as Hops & Barley. They want to better the Obion County community not just their business.

Ambassador of the Year: Tim York

This award recognizes a community leader who donates his or her time to Obion County Chamber activities and events and serves as the meet and greet team for our events. As an implemented program within the chamber, we have had a group of individuals who have gone above and beyond the expectations set.

Based on a point system for each event attended or volunteering of his or her time for any outside needs, Tim York is our 2015-2016 Ambassador of the Year.

Tim graduated from the University of Tennessee at Martin where he received a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. Tim has a background rich in customer service, is certified as a Breath Alcohol Technician and Trainer, including DOT regulations.  

Tim serves on the board Obion County Chamber, is a graduate of Leadership Obion County, a member of the Society for Human Resource Management, a mentor for TN Achieves, a notary public, and is active in multiple civic organizations in the community.

Business of the Year: JD Distributors

JD Distributors is a multi-million dollar business with two locations and over three dozen employees and you can see them advertised in fine restrooms for hundreds of miles around.

While they make their living selling Janitorial & Office Supplies, Office Furniture and Printing but they’ve made their legacy by how the treat our community, there employees and their customers.

Business Partner of the Year: TCAT

The Tennessee College of Applied Technology, has been serving the citizens of Obion, Dyer, Lake, Weakley, Crockett, Lauderdale, and Gibson counties since 1965.  

TCAT-Newbern has five campus locations: The Main campus in Newbern, our local Union City campus, Bells, Dyersburg High School, and the Dyersburg Transportation campus.  TCAT-Newbern currently has 456 students which include, traditional post secondary, as well as dual enrollment high school students.  TCAT-Newbern currently offers 13 programs:  Industrial Maintenance, Practical Nursing, Welding, Diesel Mechanic, Truck Driving, Injection Molding/Robotics, Drafting, Electronics, Cosmetology, HVAC, Automotive Technology, and Machine Tool Technology.  

The local Union City campus offers 3 of the programs, Practical Nursing, Industrial Maintenance, and Welding.

Industry of the Year: Jiffy Steamer

For over 75 years, and now including four generations Jiffy® Steamer has continued to discover revolutionary, modern applications for steam technology and takes GREAT pride in manufacturing Quality American Made Products right here in Obion County, Tennessee.

As Jiffy Steamer is now world-renowned in over 53 foreign markets with more than 1000 global dealers they are as proud as ever to call Obion County, Tennessee Home and we are proud to have them!

Volunteer of the Year: Barbie Hardy

Thunderbolt’s Barbie Hardy saw the opportunity to launch the KYTN Country Music Festival which provided a showcase for new country music artists to introduce themselves and to provide entertainment for its community. To draw additional exposure to the “KYTN Country Music Festival,” Country music recording star Kellie Pickler was secured as the “headliner” of the festival. The project took seven months.

Barbie took charge of securing talent, coordinating efforts with transportation, public safety, public works, and meeting with community leaders and businesses who helped fund the expenses of bringing this Festival to South Fulton. This festival attracted approximately 7,000 persons. Her idea for this festival came to life and the entire area benefited. The entire KYTN Country Music Festival was free to the public, and supported by local business, industry and others who not only saw the value of tourism dollars in their community but an opportunity to bring a community more closely together.

Barbie was an ambassador for the Chamber before she was asked to serve on our board for the 2016-2017 year. We are proud to have her representing Obion County!