Recipients Announced for Franklin Tomorrow’s 18th Annual Exemplary Community Volunteer Awards

 

 

 

 

It was a packed house at the Franklin Theatre on Monday, March 24, to honor the recipients in the 18th annual Franklin Tomorrow Exemplary Community Volunteer Awards.
Local attorney & Recovery Court supporter Jeffrey D. Moseley was given the Charles M. Sargent Legacy Award, which recognizes an individual who has made significant impact in the areas of business, quality of life, and leadership. It is named for the late 61st District Tennessee Rep. Charles Sargent, who received the award before his death in 2018.
In presenting the award, Franklin Tomorrow said, “While by profession Jeff Moseley is an attorney, but over his many years in Franklin, he has served countless organizations with his caring heart and a desire to do good for others.”
A 1986 graduate of Vanderbilt University School of Law, Moseley became an Associate at Buerger, Moseley & Carson in 1987, partner in 1990 and senior partner in 2002 upon the retirement of founding partner Richard Buerger. Jeff’s practice is focused in the area of health care law, but he also serves as Williamson County Government attorney.
For five years, he served as president of the 21st District Recovery Court and has received the Gayle Moyer Harris Service Award for his dedication to the organization. He oversaw the successful “Eat the Street Food Truck Event” to benefit the Recovery Court.
Married to wife Helen for more than 40 years, they have three children and 11 grandchildren and Jeff was a former president of the Optimist Club of Franklin and coached his children’s softball teams.
Other organizations which he has served include My Friends’ House and now the Circle of Giving Committee for the Ken Means Carousel at The Factory at Franklin.
On occasion he has served as a political strategist to close friends and those included the late Charles Sargent. We know he would be happy Jeff is receiving this award named in his honor because together they worked for many years in service to this community and its citizens.
Receiving the Anne T. Rutherford Award was Paula E. Harris, who was nominated by Julian Bibb III, Brandy Blanton and Teresa Ashworth Harris in the Volunteer Spirit Category, but elevated to receive the Anne T. Rutherford Lifetime Achievement Award.
Importantly, Paula has served as Executive Director of Leadership Franklin since 2012. After graduating from Leadership Franklin, Paula was an active volunteer for the organization. In 2012, however, when Caroline Cross stepped down as Executive Director, the Board of Leadership Franklin selected Paula to serve as its Executive Director.
Paula has managed the program with unmatched professional skills. She is responsible each year for bringing together 22 leaders from the Franklin community for a year’s long experience to enable those leaders to better serve our community. Paula also manages the Leadership Franklin Alumni group, coordinates Leadership Franklin’s annual projects, and manages the Leadership Franklin scholarship program. Under Paula’s leadership, Leadership Franklin has thrived. Paula is universally credited for her impact on the success of Leadership Franklin.
Paula Harris is a life-long member of our community. She was raised and educated in Williamson County. She attended Vanderbilt University and has over 40 years of experience in management and business development. She spent 20+ years with Barge Design Solutions, Inc. and then a subsidiary of Barge known as Thrivence guiding efforts in strategic initiatives, civic activities, marketing, and business development strategies.
After retiring from Thrivence, Paula has taken a consulting job with Oversite, a Franklin-based firm.
Paula Harris is a graduate of various leadership programs, including Transit Citizen Leadership Academy, Leadership Middle Tennessee, Leadership Rutherford, and Leadership Franklin. She also serves or has served on the Board of Trustees for Lipscomb University, the Board of Directors of the Discovery Center, the Board of Directors of the Nashville State Community College, and Williamson, Inc. Additionally, Paula has worked on various community-based projects led by the City of Franklin, Williamson County, The Heritage Foundation of Williamson County, and Franklin Tomorrow.
Nashville State Community College President Dr. Shanna Jackson, a Leadership Franklin 2010 graduate, said, “I’ve had the privilege of knowing Paula Harris for over 15 years. Her dedication to leading and serving others is to be commended. Paula Harris has been an extraordinary resource to Nashville State Community College. As Vice Chair of the Foundation Board, she has been instrumental in driving the board’s success, skillfully leading the Board Engagement Committee to recruit exceptional new members who have strengthened our mission. Her relentless dedication to education, combined with her compassionate and generous spirit, has profoundly influenced the Foundation’s growth and achievements. Paula’s unwavering commitment to our vision makes her an exceptionally deserving recipient of the prestigious Anne T. Rutherford Exemplary Community Volunteer Award.”
Numerous other awards were given on Wednesday night and are listed below.
Corporate Volunteerism Award:
Publix Supermarket & Tim Cochran, nominated by Habitat for Humanity Williamson-Maury as well as Graceworks Ministries;
OneGen Away, nominated by Greg Freeze
Emerging Leader Award:
Will Bell, nominated by Amy Saffel of ABLE Youth;
Will Cross, nominated by Carrie Drury of A Vintage Affair for work with that organization, but also Williamson Health Foundation and Battle Ground Academy Alumni Board;
Colbi Layne Hogan, nominated for her work with the Franklin’s Charge by Alderman Patrick Baggett; and
City of Franklin Firefighter David Konstant, nominated by Williamson County Schools Entrepreneur & Innovation Center for his work on creating a Fire Management Class.
Neighbor To Neighbor Award:
Joy Green, nominated Derrick Solomon of the Hard Bargain Association for her dedicated service;
Walter Green, nominated by Bob Ravener and the Downtown Neighborhood Association
Rich Kresja, nominated by Cassie & Derby Jones and Williamson County Veterans Services for his dedication Franklin Chapter of Vietnam Veterans, Chapter 1140;
Suzette Ralls Lane, nominated by Elaine Whitney of OneGen Away for her dedication to wiping out food insecurity and helping her neighbors; and
Alan Simms, nominated for his dedication to all things Downtown Franklin Rotary and Franklin in general.
Presented posthumously was a Neighbor to Neighbor Award to Rich Buckner for his dedication as a volunteer for the City of Franklin, but also for his work with the Franklin Alliance of Homeowner Associations (Ward 3).
Volunteer Spirit Awards:
Tara Blue, nominated by Robert Blair, her co-chair with the Williamson Inc. Black Business Coalition, but also so many more organizations;
Tony Hunnicutt, for his work with Williamson Inc. as an Ambassador and Small Business Council, but also the Downtown Franklin Rotary Club and Entrepreneur & Innovation Center;
Bob Steele, nominated as a dedicated volunteer at the Franklin Theatre;
Margaret Whiteside, nominated by Chris Barnhill of FrankTown Open Hearts for her dedication to the organization;
Greg Wade, nominated for his more than 15 years of dedication to the Franklin Civil War Roundtable.
Youth Initiative Award:
Yaritza Jarquin, nominated by Path United
Mary Jackson Tatum, nominated by ABLE Youth
Caroline Campbell, nominated by the Williamson County Public Library
Kenny Royer, nominated for his work for Davis House Child Advocacy Center
Civic Group Award
Williamson Inc. Black Business Coalition, for its work in bringing together organizations and business in the community in unique ways.
Past Franklin Tomorrow Board Chair Teresa Ashworth Harris presented four awards which were the Community Leadership Award to former Franklin Mayor Lillian Stewart, for her continued dedication to the City and to honor the fact she is the only woman to have served as Mayor; the Community Impact Award to Julie & Matt Brown, for their dedication to bringing back the Five Points Post Office and making it an activity hub; and a Community Servant Leadership Award to Sarah McGinley for her dedication to Franklin First United Methodist Church Giving Garden and its outreach impact. Franklin City Administrator Eric Stuckey was presented a Leadership in Public Service Award for the caring, compassionate and personal way he leads the day-to-day operations of the City. Past Franklin Tomorrow Board member Christine Bradley received the Board Impact Award.
Franklin Tomorrow’s Exemplary Community Volunteers Awards are made possible through a host of partners, including Lineage Bank, Williamson Memorial Funeral Home & Cremation Services, Atmos Energy Corp. Buerger, Moseley, & Carson PLC, The TMA Group, state Sen. Jack Johnson, and Williamson Health. Thanks are also due to a group of elected officials from Williamson County, including County Mayor Rogers Anderson, County Clerk Jeff Whidby, Register of Deeds Sherry Anderson, Circuit Court Clerk Debbie Barrett, Property Assessor Brad Coleman, Juvenile Court Clerk Margaret Mahew, County Trustee Karen Paris, 21st District Attorney Stacey Edmonson, Juvenile Court Judge Sharon Guffee, and Sheriff Jeff Hughes.
About Franklin Tomorrow
Franklin Tomorrow is an independent, nonprofit community visioning and engagement organization founded in 2000 by a group of business and community leaders. Our mission is to engage the community, foster collaboration, and advocate for a shared vision for the future of Franklin. Learn more at www.franklintomorrow.org.

All photos courtesy of Sarah White, Williamson Herald