Butch Spyridon has been named the 2023 JA Nashville Business Hall of Fame laureate by Junior Achievement of Middle Tennessee. This distinguished annual event recognizes Nashville’s outstanding contributors to business and philanthropy.
Spyridon was selected by JA and past laureates for his achievements in business leadership and community impact in the Nashville area. He will be honored at Junior Achievement of Middle Tennessee’s Nashville Business Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony Nov. 1 at the Music City Center.
Other members of the Hall of Fame include Decosta Jenkins, Pam Wright, Darrell Freeman, former Gov. Bill Haslam, John Ferguson, Marty Dickens, Amy Grant, Jack Bovender Jr., Rob McCabe, Mark Emkes, Hal Pennington, Ron Samuels and Joe Scarlett.
Spyridon is a graduate of Vanderbilt University, where he earned a degree in business administration, and the Institute of Comparative Political and Economic Systems at Georgetown University. He is the former president and CEO of the Nashville Convention & Visitors Corporation, which he led for 32 years.
Originally from Mississippi, Spyridon was a leader in destination marketing in both Baton Rouge, Louisiana and Mobile, Alabama. He returned to Nashville in 1991 and focused on building a strong sales team and expanding Nashville’s tourism market.
Spyridon significantly improved the city’s financial growth. He was intricately involved in recruiting the Tennessee Titans football team to Nashville and the approval process for the Music City Center located in downtown Nashville, helped lead the effort to keep the Nashville Predators hockey team in Nashville, led recruitment and hosting for the 2019 NFL Draft, helped create Nashville’s New Year’s Eve event, which is now a five-hour CBS special and more.
Spyridon was crucial in transforming Nashville as it is known today. He was recognized as among the Global Top 100 Most Influential People in Events in 2022.
Clement to be honored with transportation award
The American Public Transportation Association has bestowed its Distinguished Service Award to former Tennessee U.S. Rep. Bob Clement. The award recognizes Clement for his leadership and commitment to advancing the cause of public transportation.
During his tenure in the U.S. House of Representatives (1988-2003), Clement served on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and held the position of ranking member on the House Railroads Subcommittee. His advocacy spanned commuter rail, Amtrak, intercity passenger rail and the freight rail industry, resulting in several significant legislative accomplishments. In 1998, Clement secured a pivotal rail provision in the Surface Transportation reauthorization leading to the creation of the Railroad Rehabilitation and Infrastructure Financing program. Originally intended to provide vital capital to short lines and regional railroads through low-interest loans, RRIF has since expanded to encompass a diverse range of commuter, passenger and freight rail projects.
Clement’s commitment to commuter rail culminated in securing full funding for the WeGo Star Commuter Rail line, connecting Nashville and Lebanon as part of the 1998 transportation bill.
Polsinelli adds lateral attorneys in Nashville
Polsinelli has added a team of lateral commercial finance attorneys in the firm’s Nashville office.
The three-lawyer finance team – shareholders Bob Hannon and Keaton H. Osborne, as well as associate Katelin A. Davis – has joined Polsinelli’s Capital Markets & Commercial Lending Practice in its Real Estate & Financial Services Department.
Hannon focuses his practice on commercial finance transactions, representing both borrowers and lenders in a variety of industry sectors, including without limitation commercial real estate, health care and employee stock ownership plans.
He is a graduate of Vanderbilt University and Vanderbilt University Law School.
Osborne focuses his practice on commercial finance, where he assists lenders and borrowers in various commercial lending transactions, such as acquisition financings, asset-based loans, and real estate development and construction loans.
Before law school, he worked as an engineer for a U.S. Department of Energy contractor providing environmental remediation services in his hometown of Paducah, Kentucky. Osborne is a graduate of the University of Kentucky and earned his J.D. from the University of Kentucky College of Law.
Davis helps clients find solutions to complex matters within the commercial finance industry. She is a graduate of the University of Mississippi and earned her J.D. from the University of Mississippi School of Law.
Ingram Group adds legislative consultant
The Ingram Group has added Leah Dupree Love to its team.
Before joining The Ingram Group, Love led Tennessee State University’s government relations team. There, she assisted the president, general counsel and university leadership with communication to state and local government officials regarding legislative, policy and program issues facing the institution.
Additionally, she was the owner of Dupree Consulting Group where she assisted clients with business formation and succession and various other legal matters.
Love began her career in Gov. Phil Bredeson’s administration as a legislative intern with the Department of Human Services. After graduating law school, she returned to Nashville and served for one legislative session as a Tennessee Senate clerk before working as a legislative aide to former state Sen. Doug Overbey. She then transitioned to Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam’s Administration, where she was the legislative liaison for the Department of General Services.
Love holds a degree in political science from Tennessee State University, an MBA from Valparaiso University and a juris doctorate from Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law.
A native of Jackson, she and her husband, state Rep. Harold M. Love, Jr., reside in Nashville.
Ellington’s Restaurant taps food and beverage director
Ellington’s Restaurant, located on the fourth floor of the Fairlane Hotel, has named Garland Smith as the director of food and beverage.
Smith brings more than 20 years of experience to the position. Originally from Knoxville, Smith spent 12 years in Los Angeles, splitting his time at The Viper Room as general manager and at the Mondrian Hotel as food and beverage manager. Upon returning to Nashville in 2009, Smith was the director of food and beverage at the Schermerhorn Nashville Symphony.
Before his new role at Ellington’s Restaurant, Smith held the position of restaurant general manager for the Virgin Hotel Nashville.
tnAchieves inducts Mentor Hall of Fame members
tnAchieves has announced its 2023 inductees into the tnAchieves Mentor Hall of Fame, an honor meant to celebrate and honor mentors who consistently go above and beyond to support tnAchieves efforts in their communities. tnAchieves Mentor Hall of Fame inductees include educators, business professionals and community leaders from across the state.
This year Hall of Fame class includes:
• Callie Archer - Anderson County – 12-year mentor
• Zach Sheets - Campbell County - 11 Years
• Samantha Gutter - Davidson County - 9 Year Mentor
• Jayme Simmons - Davidson County - 10 years
• Ruth Ann Holt - Giles County - nine years
• Bill Brittain - Hamblen County - 11 years
• Marvin Stewart - Jefferson County - nine years
• Janet Jentilet - Knox County - 10 years
• Danni Varlan - Knox County - nine years
• Laura Monks - Lincoln County - nine years
• Julie Bennett - Marion County - nine years
• Glenn Swift - Knox County/Campbell County - eight years
• Tracy Hall - Shelby County - eight years
• Fran Odom - Shelby County - 12 years
• DeJuan Parker - Shelby County - 11 years
• Misty Rosser- White - Shelby County - 10 years
• Nick Grabar - Sullivan County - nine years
• David Gregory - Sumner County - eight years
• Jerry Faulkner - Sumner County/Blount County - 10 years
• Robin Sealy - Tipton County - four years
• Jake Bynum - Weakley County - eight years
• Wayne Ellington - Williamson County - nine years
• Troy Grant - Wilson County - 10 years
• Paul Stumb - Wilson County - nine years
Those wishing to join tnAchieves as a mentor can visit www.tnAchieves.org/mentors. More than 3,700 volunteer mentors are needed with less than one month until the Oct. 20 deadline.