Julian Bibb

Julian Bibb will be the recipient of the Business Legacy Award to be presented Wednesday, July 26, as part of the 11th annual Franklin Tomorrow Exemplary Community Volunteer Awards and Volunteer Spirit Awards, at the Franklin Theatre.

The event will begin at 7 p.m. following a 5:30 p.m. reception at First Bank at Five Points for nominees, their families and ticketholders. New this year will be a champagne and dessert after-party, hosted at PARKS Realty.

The awards presentation will begin at 7 p.m. Tickets are available for $25 per person through the Franklin Theatre at www.franklintheatre.com and include the pre- and post-parties, as well as the main event at the Theatre.

The Franklin Tomorrow Business Legacy Award is a continuation of the Business Legends Award previously presented by the Williamson County-Franklin Chamber of Commerce.

This award recognizes an individual who has made significant impact in the areas of business, quality of life, and leadership, according to Tim Murphy, Franklin Tomorrow Board president.

Bibb, who lists among his biggest passions the pursuit of the law and the Franklin community, most recently finished a term as president of the Heritage Foundation, but has been a leader in the founding of numerous community organizations and activities.

Among the organizations he helped to found is Leadership Franklin and Debbie Henry, associate executive director of the program, had this to say in a nomination.

“Above all, Julian is the epitome of volunteer servant leadership. Each day, he unselfishly rolls up his sleeves, and brings his expertise, his talents, his passion, and his toolbox filled with love for Franklin, Williamson County, and Tennessee, with the goal of continually helping others and bettering the community,” Henry wrote, with the support of Leadership Franklin prepared for her and Leadership Franklin Executive Director Paula Harris.

Mary Pearce, the recipient of last year’s Business Legacy Award and recent retiree as the long-time executive director of the Heritage Foundation, also submitted a nomination for Bibb. She noted he has served more terms as Heritage Foundation president than anyone else in that organization’s 50-year history.

“Julian has served as the leader who can build consensus for projects that profoundly impact our community such as battlefield reclamation, conservation easements, tourism, historic zoning, community visioning, leadership building for youth and adults, purchase of special places like Harlinsdale Farm and support of education,” she wrote. “He does the needed homework for each project, takes the best notes, creates the best teamwork, never gives up and always finds the time to also be an amazingly productive attorney, wonderful family man and great friend.”

Bibb is a member of Stites & Harbison PLLC with a practice specializing in banking and real estate law. Earlier this summer, Bibb and the firm were recognized by The Land Trust for Tennessee for providing $500,000 in pro-bono services to the organization, and also they were recognized by The Civil War Trust for providing pro bono legal services to battlefield preservation in Franklin valued at $1.5 Million.

To list the organizations which Bibb has helped to start would be lengthy, but they include Franklin Tomorrow, Franklin’s Charge, the Education Foundation of Williamson County, and several more. He is active with the Land Trust of Tennessee, Cumberland Region Tomorrow, The Transportation Management Association, and Leadership Middle Tennessee, as well as many professional organizations.

He is married to Jayne, and their children are Julian and Debra, Polly and Chris, Joseph and John. He has six grandchildren.

Making the event possible as partners are FirstBank and Williamson Medical Center. Acting as supporters are Buerger Moseley Carson, PARKS Realty, and Rotary Club of Franklin at Breakfast.

In 2007, Franklin Tomorrow established the Exemplary Community Volunteer Awards to honor the decades of service and tremendous impact of Anne T. Rutherford, with an award which recognizes the collective effort of an individual’s work, the impact on the agencies themselves, and the community at large. Awards will also be presented in the Volunteer Spirit, Youth Initiative, Civic Groups, Corporate Volunteer Teams, and Individual Corporate Volunteer categories.

Patron supporters for the event are The TMA Group, Franklin Lions Club, and Signs First. Supporters are 61st District State Rep. Charles Sargent, 63rd District State Rep. Glen Casada, 23rd District State Sen. Jack Johnson, 65th District State Rep. Sam Whitson, Ernie & Nell Bacon, Deana Hood, Attorney at Law, The BBB Integrity Foundation, Taziki’s, District Attorney General Kim Helper, Lipman Brothers, and the R.S. Lipman Company, and Ryan Search & Consulting.

Franklin Tomorrow is a community visioning nonprofit which seeks to engage the community, foster collaboration, and advocate for a shared vision for the future of Franklin. That shared vision includes a vibrant economy, distinct character, robust neighborhoods, and great people. Visit our Website at www.franklintomorrow.org.

Franklin Tomorrow’s 2017 Breakfast with The Mayors series, presented by Pinnacle Financial Partners, will continue on Tuesday, July 25 at Rolling Hills Community Church.
The event will begin with networking at 7 a.m., followed by the start of the program at 7:45 a.m. Williamson County Mayor Rogers Anderson will help facilitate the timely topic of “The Business of Sports” Representatives will speak of the economic impact of sport organizations in Middle Tennessee.
While the full roster of those on stage is still being drafted, the panel will include Sean Henry, President & CEO of the Nashville Predators, and Mike Keith, The Voice of the Tennessee Titans. Coffee will be served by MJ Roasting of Nolensville and breakfast will be catered by Puckett’s Grocery & Restaurant.
Thanks to our generous partners, Breakfast with the Mayors is free to attend. Our 2017 supporters include Pinnacle Financial Partners, Williamson County Association of Realtors, Williamson Medical Center, Tennessee Equine Hospital, Rolling Hills Community Church, Patterson, Hardee, & Ballentine, Puckett’s Grocery & Restaurant, and MJ Roasting. We would also like to thank our July Sponsor, Andrews Transportation Group, for their support as well.

Presentation July 26 at Franklin Theatre

Nominees in five categories have been announced in preparation for the 11th annual Franklin Tomorrow Exemplary Community Volunteer Awards and Volunteer Spirit Awards, set for Wednesday, July 26, at the Franklin Theatre.

The event will begin at 7 p.m. following a 5:30 p.m. reception at First Bank at Five Points for nominees, their families and ticketholders to the event. New this year will be a champagne and dessert after-party, hosted at PARKS Realty.

The awards presentation will begin at 7 p.m. Tickets are available for $25 per person through the Franklin Theatre at www.franklintheatre.com and include the pre- and post-parties, as well as the main event at the Theatre.

Making the event possible as partners are FirstBank and Williamson Medical Center. Acting as supporters are Buerger Moseley Carson and PARKS Realty.

In 2007, Franklin Tomorrow established the Exemplary Community Volunteer Awards to honor the decades of service and tremendous impact of Anne T. Rutherford, a founding member of Franklin Tomorrow and an active volunteer for many community organizations. The award recognizes the collective effort of an individual’s work, the impact on the agencies themselves, and the community at large.

The Volunteer Spirit and the Youth Initiative Awards were created to allow more people to be honored for selflessly supporting local non-profit organizations or agencies.

Awards also to be presented will recognize Civic Groups, Corporate Volunteer Teams, as well as Individual Corporate Volunteers.

For the fourth year, Franklin Tomorrow will present the Legacy Award, a continuation of the Business Legends Award previously presented by the Williamson County-Franklin Chamber of Commerce.

This award will recognize an individual or individuals who have made significant impact in the areas of business, quality of life, and leadership.

Patron supporters for the event are The TMA Group and Signs First. Supporters are 61st District State Rep. Charles Sargent, 63rd District State Rep. Glen Casada, 23rd District State Sen. Jack Johnson, 65th District State Rep. Sam Whitson, Ernie & Nell Bacon, Deana Hood, Attorney at Law, The BBB Integrity Foundation, District Attorney General Kim Helper, Lipman Brothers, and the R.S. Lipman Company, and Ryan Search & Consulting.

Nominees and their categories include:

Volunteer Spirit Category: 

Allena Bell, nominated for her work with numerous agencies by Sydney Ball; Andy Marshall, nominated by Brightstone; Ann Logan, nominated for her work with People for Animals & Friends of Williamson County Animal Shelter; Anne Hook, nominated by Gentry’s Educational Foundation; Bob Steele, nominated by Franklin Theatre; Cathy & Calvin Bishop, nominated by Catholic Charities; Chris Whitney, nominated for One Gen Away; Christy Pauley, nominated by Poplar Grove Elementary School; Dulcie Scotto, nominated by Tucker’s House; Eunetta Kready, nominated for her work with several organizations including the Heritage Foundation; Janine Moore, nominated by Davis Child Advocacy Center; Jim Adkins, nominated for his work with A Vintage Affair & other organizations; Kay Awalt Musgrove, nominated by the Franklin Theatre; Linda C. Moore, nominated by the Heritage Foundation; Mary Beth Gates, nominated by High Hopes; Mary Sue Owen, nominated by Our Thrift Store; Mike Alexander, nominated for his work with BrightStone, the Better Business Bureau and other organizations; Susan Edenfield, nominated by the Franklin Lions Club; and Suzanne McLemore, nominated by Our Thrift Store.

Youth Initiative Category:

Amalie McGarraugh, nominated by United Way of Williamson County; Cameron Duncan, nominated by Williamson County Animal Shelter; Destiny Moore, nominated by the Boys & Girls Club of Williamson County; and Threads of Care, nominated by Preston Elliott.

Civic Group Category:

African American Heritage Society, nominated by Alma McLemore; Downtown Neighborhood Association, nominated by Brian Beathard; Franklin BBQ Society, nominated by Patrick Baggett; Franklin Cross Point Church, nominated by WAVES Inc.; Franklin Special School District Board of Education, nominated by Dr. David Snowden; First Presbyterian Church, nominated by Brightstone; and VITA Volunteers, nominated by United Way of Williamson County.

Corporate Individual Category:

Kim Dykes, nominated for House for Hope Designer Show House; and Brian Evans, nominated by United Way of Williamson County.

Corporate Team Category:

Apcom Inc., nominated by Brightstone; Carbine & Associates, nominated for House for Hope Designer Show House; First Citizens National Bank, nominated for work with various organizations; Franklin Synergy Bank, nominated by Mid-Cumberland Meals on Wheels; Jackson National Life, nominated by Williamson County CASA; and Publix Supermarkets, nominated by United Way of Williamson County.

Join Franklin Tomorrow on Monday, June 12, for our next monthly FrankTalks Lecture and learn about Williamson County’s “Three New Faces to Know in 2017.” The event is being held in the large ballroom at the Williamson County Enrichment Center. Coffee and networking will begin at 9 a.m. and the program will start at 9:30 a.m.

Participating on the panel will be Bari Watson Beasley, the new CEO of the Heritage Foundation of Franklin & Williamson County; Valencia A. Breckenridge, the newly appointed CEO for GraceWorks; and Rob Wigton, the new Executive Vice President for the Williamson County Association of Realtors.

To RSVP for the event, follow this link.

Beasley

Beasley previously worked as the chief officer of marketing and external relations for the General Council on Finance & Administration, a global agency of The United Methodist Church. Beasley brings more than 15 years of experience in marketing and nonprofits and joined the Heritage Foundation this month.

Breckenridge

Breckenridge is a native of Chicago, Illinois and came to Franklin only last November. She most recently served as the Major Gift Officer for Feed My Starving Children, a $40 million hunger-relief organization.

Wigton

Completing the panel is Wigton, who has more than 22 years of experience in various parts of the real estate profession. He has served as the CEO of both a state and local association. He was most recently the CEO of the Greater Gateway Association of REALTORS® in Glen Carbon, Illinois.

We look forward to giving all three panelists a warm welcome as we learn more about them and the future they see for their organizations in Franklin.

Tennessee Department of Transportation Commissioner John Schroer spoke May 8 at Franklin Tomorrow’s FrankTalks. While unable to discuss specifics of his department’s three-year project plan since the Tennessee Legislature had not approved the 2017-18 fiscal year budget, Schroer did drill deep into the details of Gov. Bill Haslam’s IMPROVE Act and its ability to positively impact Tennessee and local roadway networks.

As former mayor of Franklin, Schroer remembers lobbying TDOT officials and the state’s governor for funding for the construction of Mack Hatcher Parkway’s northwest leg, which is reportedly on the three-year projects list. He said Franklin positioned itself to gain the road’s construction by funding more than $5 million in work to ensure it was “shovel ready.”

He also discussed the importance of widening the southeast legs of Mack Hatcher from Columbia Avenue to Highway 96 East and hinted at the design of a southwest leg which would complete the full loop of the road.

He shared the hour-long program with Diane Thorne, regional transportation director for The TMA Group, which is a regional leader in providing innovative, sustainable multi-modal transportation solutions for employers and communities, including the VanStar regional commuter vanpool program, the growing urban public Franklin Transit system, the Clean Air partnership, and Transportation Demand Management programs.

She said Tennessee’s roadway system is the best in the nation and while the framework of the transportation system is the roadway network, “It is not about how many cars you can move on the roadway system, but about how many people you can move on the roadway system.”

Franklin Mayor Ken Moore told the crowd funding has been secured for an I-65 corridor study to further investigate mass transit options, but he expressed the belief that even if a light-rail or bus-rapid transit system were in place to serve the region and corridor today, it would not be successful due to a lack of use by drivers who prefer their vehicles.

Schroer has become a Southeastern and national leader in transportation policy and also discussed the rise of autonomous vehicles, asserting his belief that whether citizens are ready for them or not, they are the wave and way of the future.

“My grandson, who is 4 years old, will never drive a car,” Schroer said, adding unless it were for recreational purposes, but instead would utilize an autonomous vehicle.

FrankTalks is held the second Monday of every month and Vanderbilt University’s Office of Community, Neighborhood and Government Relations has partnered with Franklin Tomorrow to present the series.

To watch the entire video, follow the link below.

Franklin Tomorrow’s 2017 FrankTalks Lecture Series will continue Monday, May 8, at City Hall in the Training Room. The event will kick off with coffee and networking at 9 a.m. and the program will begin at 9:30 a.m.

Tennessee Department of Transportation Commissioner John Schroer will be our guest, along with representatives of The TMA Group, to discuss the IMPROVE Act and its impact on Williamson County. It is expected TDOT’s three-year project list will be updated and released before Schroer’s appearance on May 8. The Tennessee Legislature is also expected to vote on Gov. Bill Haslam’s budget prior to May 8, giving TDOT knowledge of how much funding will exist.

To RSVP, follow this link.

The IMPROVE Act allows for local option taxes, to be approved by referendum, to fund transit projects, which is part of the work of The TMA Group.

FrankTalks is free and the public is invited. Franklin Tomorrow partnered with Vanderbilt University’s Office of Neighborhood, Government and Community Relations to expand the frequency of FrankTalks in 2016 to a monthly program. It is held at various locations across the city, but always on the second Monday of the month.

Office of Community, Neighborhood, and Government Relations

Franklin Tomorrow’s quarterly Breakfast With the Mayors, presented by Pinnacle Financial Partners, drew a crowd on Tuesday, April 25, to hear from some of the county’s experts on the development of the area as a entertainment center.

The panel discusses entertainment in Williamson County during the April 25, 2017, Breakfast With the Mayors.

Panelists Brandt Wood, co-founder of the Pilgrimage Music Festival; Ellie Westman Chin, president & CEO of the Williamson County Convention and Visitor’s Bureau; and Mary Pearce, executive director of the Heritage Foundation of Williamson County, talked about the evolution, the impact and the variety of the entertainment scene in Williamson County.

According to a story by Carole Robinson in the Williamson Herald, with only days left until she officially retires from the Heritage Foundation, Pearce took the opportunity to remind or inform those present about the impact historic preservation projects have had on what Franklin is today and the growth of entertainment opportunities.

So many newcomers think Franklin has always looked the way it looks now, Pearce said.

“The journey actually started 50-years ago when the Heritage Foundation started with historic preservation,” she said as pictures of Franklin in the 1970s and Franklin today flashed on the big screen.

For Chin, the goal is to bring visitors into the county and have them spend their disposable income and then return to their homes.

“What we try to do is bring ‘em in, have they stay a while and send them home,” Chin said.

For Wood, as Pilgrimage Music Festival heads for its third year and first potential sell-out, he was thankful for the support of leaders as well as the community in general.

“I want to take this opportunity to say thank you for supporting the idea in year zero,” said Wood. “It’s more than a festival; it’s intended to create an experience.”

Entertainment in Williamson County is more than music and festivals, said County Mayor Rogers Anderson. The Franklin Rodeo May 18-20, the Williamson County Fair, Aug. 4-12, and a variety of amateur sporting events are just a few examples of the variety of entertainment possibilities.

To watch the entire meeting, click on the link below.

The Williamson Herald
Kerri Bartlett, Managing Editor

According to a few seemingly odd studies cited by Vanderbilt University political science professor Marc Hetherington, liberals like cats more, while conservatives prefer dogs, he said at the recent FrankTalks series, “Political Trust and The Origins of Deep Divisions in Our Country.”

A liberal is more likely to order a veggie burger, or curry chicken with biryani rice, where as a conservative prefers a hamburger and whose favorite meal is most likely meatloaf with mashed potatoes and green beans, Hetherington said, according to grubbhub.com.

Liberals also watch less sports.

According to Hetherington, these seemingly trivial preferences seem to be linked to one’s worldview, and one’s worldview seems to dramatically affect one’s political views and how one votes at the polls.

Because worldviews are so personal and intertwined with every aspect of one’s life, Hetherington says this is the reason political differences are becoming so difficult to resolve.

Hetherington says America is divided within it’s political system, and people are having difficult time understanding each other.

To read the rest of Bartlett’s story, follow this link.

To view Hetherington’s Powerpoint presentation, click on westhaven.talk

The 2017 Breakfast with The Mayors Series continues on April 25th at Rolling Hills Community Church.

Starting at 7 a.m. with breakfast from Puckett’s Gro. & Restaurant and MJ Roasting of Nolensville, Franklin Mayor Ken Moore and Williamson County Mayor Rogers Anderson will focus on the topic, “Can’t Stop the Feeling: Williamson County’s Entertainment Scene.”

Forming the panel will be Brandt Wood, co-founder of the Pilgrimage Music Festival; Ellie Westman Chin, president & CEO of the Williamson County Convention & Visitors Bureau; and Mary Pearce, executive director of the Heritage Foundation of Williamson County.

To RSVP, follow this link.

Coffee will be served by MJ Roasting of Nolensville at 7 a.m., when the networking portion of this event will begin. Additionally, we will have breakfast catered by Puckett’s Grocery & Restaurant. The program will start at 7:45 a.m.

Thanks to our generous partners, Breakfast with the Mayors is free to attend. Our 2017 supporters include Pinnacle Financial Partners, Williamson County Association of Realtors, Williamson Medical Center, Tennessee Equine Hospital, Rolling Hills Community Church, Patterson, Hardee, & Ballentine, Puckett’s Grocery & Restaurant, and MJ Roasting. We would also like to thank our April Sponsor, Andrews Transportation Group, for their support as well.

The call for nominations for the 11th annual Franklin Tomorrow Exemplary Community Volunteer Awards has gone out, according to Franklin Tomorrow Board President Tim Murphy.

The awards will be presented July 26 during an event open to the public at the Franklin Theatre, preceded by a reception at FirstBank. Among the partners for the event is Williamson Medical Center.

Nominations must be returned by end of business May 19, 2017.

In 2007, Franklin Tomorrow established the Exemplary Community Volunteer Awards to honor the decades of service and tremendous impact of Anne T. Rutherford, a founding member of Franklin Tomorrow and an active volunteer for many community organizations. The award recognizes the collective effort of an individual’s work and the impact on the agencies themselves and the community at large. One award is given annually.

The Volunteer Spirit and the Youth Initiative Awards were created to allow more people to be honored for selflessly supporting local non-profit organizations or agencies. The Ned Lea Lifetime Achievement Award was created in 2011 to posthumously honor an exemplary volunteer. While not presented annually, nominations are accepted each year. Other awards may be created by the Board of Franklin Tomorrow to recognize significant achievement.

In its fourth year, the Civic Group Award will honor representatives of civic, membership, congregation or non-corporate groups that volunteer together for a cause, while the Corporate Team Award will recognize companies that see the value of giving back to their community through successful volunteer programs with high levels of participation and impact.

Finally, the Corporate Volunteer Award will recognize an individual who as part of a company-sponsored volunteer program or event has made a significant contribution to one or more organizations.

A $500 grant to the winner’s non-profit of choice accompanies the Anne T. Rutherford Award, while a $250 grant accompanies the other awards.

For more information or questions, please contact Executive Director Mindy Tate or Operations Administrator Carmen Stanek at (615) 794-0998.

To download the packet, click the image below.

2017 Volunteer Awards nomination packet