Business
Franklin Tomorrow Goal & Strategies for Business
as identified in 2011 Vision Fair process
GOAL: Thriving and diverse business environment to include downtown retail, tourism, and high-tech industry (corporate headquarters)
Strategies:
1. Promote business friendly environment
2. Encourage the development of improved facilities and infrastructure to support tourism and businesses in downtown Franklin
3. Support the recruitment of clean, high tech and other industries, as well as corporate headquarters and/or divisions that pay higher than average wages
4. Promote heritage tourism
5. Encourage the extension and development of downtown Franklin
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Williamson Herald: Jan. 31, 2012 New chamber selects a name, hires consultant; three current chambers to hold joint meeting The transition board guiding the unification of three chambers of commerce in Williamson County announced today three significant initiatives – the selection of a name for the new chamber, the hiring of a transition consultant and the scheduling of a joint meeting of the current chambers to answer member questions about the unification process. The new name of the combined chamber, which is expected to launch at the end of 2012, is the Williamson County Chamber of Commerce. It will bring together the Williamson County-Franklin Chamber of Commerce, the Brentwood Cool Springs Chamber of Commerce and the Cool Springs Chamber of Commerce. The slogan for the new chamber is “One Williamson, One Chamber.” The three chambers have scheduled a joint meeting on Thursday, Feb. 16, at 11:30 a.m. at the Franklin Marriott in Cool Springs, which will include a panel discussion on chamber unification. There will also be an opportunity for members to ask questions. Registration is available through any of the three chambers or their websites and non-members are welcome. The consultant who has been hired, Charles Van Rysselberge, has served as president and CEO of the Charleston, South Carolina Metro Chamber of Commerce and the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber of Commerce. He has dual citizenship (American and Belgian) and is a South Carolina Consular Corps member, serving as the foreign trade advisor for the country of Belgium. Van Rysselberge will help the transition board as it works through a variety of issues, including the hiring of a CEO, the dues structure, office location, fundraising and programming plans. Having spent several days in the county recently working on the project, Van Rysselberge commented, “The leadership of Williamson County should be applauded for investing their volunteer time to create a unified Chamber for their county. This is something that has been discussed for a long time, and now the Boards of these local Chambers have decided to take action to make ‘One Williamson-One Chamber’ a reality. I am very excited to have been selected to be a consulting advisor through this process, and will draw upon my 40 years of Chamber of Commerce experience to assist them.” Van Rysselberge is a graduate of the University of Georgia, with a bachelor’s degree and master’s degree in journalism/mass communication. His master’s thesis was on chamber communication programs in metropolitan U.S. cities. He also served in the U.S. Army as a Signal Corps officer. Van Rysselberge and his family live on Daniel Island, SC. Transition Board Chairman Brad Dunn stated how much he appreciates the support and active participation of the three Chamber Presidents- Nancy Conway, Cindi Parmenter, and Shelly Robertson. “In this effort to unite into one mutual organization, it takes the strong and dedicated leadership of professional staff, board members, and the combined network of volunteer leadership throughout the community. In this case, representatives from all three groups have shown an incredible spirit of cooperation and support,” Dunn said. About the Williamson County Chamber of Commerce On July 27, 2011, the boards of directors for the three largest chambers of commerce in Williamson County, announced they had accepted the recommendations of a unification task force to work together to form a new countywide chamber of commerce. This decision came after the unanimous recommendation of the joint task force, which had been studying the issue since December 2010. The new Williamson County Chamber of Commerce will provide the business community in Middle Tennessee and beyond a single path to engage, promote and connect with Williamson County. Transition Board members are: Kenny Blackburn, Nancy Conway, David Flow, Cathy Holland, Rick Kloete, Matt Largen, Kristen McBryde, Cindi Parmenter, Jill Rosenberry, Mark Shore, Shelly Robertson, Angela Votta, Joe Budd, treasurer; Linda Hirsch, secretary; Chris Czarka, vice chairman; and Brad Dunn, chairman. •••••••••
The case for business in Williamson County...
Williamson County Economic Development outlines the case for doing business in Williamson County on its Web site, www.williamsonprospers.com.
Follow this link to the entire presentation.
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Officers elected for One Williamson One Chamber Board
Officers have been elected for the One Williamson One Chamber initiative, according to Williamson County Franklin Chamber President Nancy Conway.
Elected as president of the initiative was Brad Dunn, who was placed on the One Williamson One Chamber Board as a representative of the Brentwood Cool Springs Chamber of Commerce. Elected as vice president was Chris Czarka, who represents the Williamson County Franklin Chamber. Serving as treasurer is Joe Budd, representing the Cool Springs Chamber, while Linda Hirsch, representing the Brentwood Cool Springs Chamber, was selected as secretary.
Other members of that board include:
Kenny Blackburn,Retired- AT&T
Nancy Conway, Williamson County Franklin Chamber of Commerce
David Flow, Flow Construction
Cathy Holland, Metro Nashville Airport Authority
Rick Kloete, Kloete Group, Inc.
Matt Largen, Williamson County Economic Development
Kristen McBryde, Aloft Nashville - Cool Springs
Cindi Parmenter, Brentwood Cool Springs Chamber of Commerce
Jill Rosenberry, Sun Trust - Spring Hill
Mark Shore, Williamson County Convention & Visitors Bureau
Marti Veto, Cool Springs Chamber of Commerce
The three major existing chambers have voted to approve a merger, but the specifics of how that merged chamber would operate – from its name, to staffing, to office location -- have not been determined. It will be the job of the transition board to determine those specifics.
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Mission of the Business Strategy Group: To encourage communication between the citizens of Franklin, our government and businesses creating opportunity to identify ways to support local business and our community.
Business Task Force Report based on the Breakfast with the Mayors October 2009
Business Task Force Update presented at the Breakfast with the Mayors March 2010
Business Strategy Group:
Lisa Gregory (Co-Chair)
Nancy Conway
Dan Ryan
Kathie Moore
Phil Fawcett
Mindy Tate
Elizabeth Mefferd
Tennessean: Cool Springs skyline resumes transformation
Boyle has broken ground on final phase of Meridian
By Kevin Walters
The Tennessean
Cool Springs’ supply of available retail and office space is being replenished as crews start work on a $40 million, three-building expansion that completes the Meridian development.
Begun in 2005 by developer Boyle Investment Co. and its partner Milwaukee, Wis.-based Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance, the 60-acre Meridian site off Carothers Parkway is home to hotels, restaurants and headquarters.
By next year, work will bring full circle a project many developers saw as a poster child for mixed-use development in suburban Cool Springs.
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Three Williamson County chambers of commerce to unify into one group
The three largest chambers of commerce in Williamson County will join to form a single countywide chamber of commerce, the boards of directors of the three organizations announced July 27.
The boards of the Brentwood Cool Springs Chamber, the Cool Springs Chamber and the Williamson County-Franklin Chamber voted to approve the unification upon the unanimous recommendation of a joint task force that has been studying the issue since December. The task force included representatives of the three chambers plus members from the Spring Hill, Nolensville and Fairview chambers.
The single chamber is intended to provide greater opportunities for programming and networking for its members, and to be a stronger voice for economic development and the quality of life in Williamson County. As part of its recommendation, the task force coined the phrase “One Williamson- One Chamber” to best convey the message and potential strength of unification.
“Creation of a single countywide chamber of commerce is a natural step in the evolution of Williamson County,” the three boards said in a statement. “The new organization will be a natural leader in the region and help improve the quality of life and economic development in our county. We will be organized for the future while honoring the past.”
The next step in the process is the formation of a transitional Board of Directors for the new Chamber, the members of which will be announced by September 1 of this year. The chambers of Nolensville, Fairview, and Spring Hill will remain independent and have been invited to serve on the transitional Board as well. It will be the purpose of that Board to work on the best and most efficient ways to combine the programs, operations, leadership and locations of the three existing chambers. No final decisions have yet been made about those issues.
A countywide press conference will be scheduled as soon as the transitional board has been named.
As stated throughout the process, the overarching goal has been to create an organization that will be positioned to best represent the entirety of the business community in Williamson County.
“These are truly exciting times for the Williamson County-Franklin, Brentwood Cool Springs, and Cool Spring Chambers of Commerce,” said Richard Jefferson, Chairman of the Williamson County Franklin Chamber. “It is without question that upon the unification of the chambers, the business community and economic development efforts will be those that all others will strive to emulate.”
"This is a great day for the business community in Williamson County. We absolutely believe this is the right thing for economic and community development and whole-heartedly support the unification of the three chambers," said Guy A. Crossley, Board Chair of the Brentwood Cool Springs Chamber of Commerce.
“The Cool Springs Chamber of Commerce and its leadership team are very pleased about the approval by the three major chambers in Williamson County to form a unified chamber,” said Sheree Bartlett, chairman of the Cool Springs Chamber. “We feel this is a win for our business community and our members. We are excited about this and the opportunities it will bring to Williamson County.“