Partying on a Patio (Fall Edition) An overflowing crowd of Chamber members and visitors enjoyed the final Party on the Patio for 2022, with a beautiful evening and scrumptious food and tasty beverages, provided by Slim Chickens, STIX, and Pimento’s Burgers, Bar, and Grill. Thursday, November 3, was an evening of schmoozing, laughs, handshakes and hugs, with an occasional nod to politics, as several candidates vying for office attended. Chamber President and CEO Mark Heuberger offered a brief welcome to the crowd after State Representative Kevin Vaughan “called the meeting to order.” Chris Webb of First Horizon Bank, the [...]

A Conversation with James Lewellen James Lewellen has held the role of Collierville Town Administrator for 27 years. This is the top unelected position in the Town government. Under the “James Lewellen era,” the Town saw the building of a new, state-of-the-art high school in 2018, and a Baptist Memorial Hospital campus. The population has exploded from 18,000 in 1995 to around 51,000 residents today. Before taking on this role, Lewellen worked for the City of Germantown for four years. He officially retires later this year when his replacement, Molly Mehner, will take over the role on [...]

TVA’s Mark Yates Offers Power Talk Collierville Chamber's October Monthly Membership Meeting  The Collierville Chamber of Commerce offered the third speaker in their economic development Monthly Membership Meetings at Collierville First Baptist Church on Wednesday, October 19. Before the day’s featured presentation, Mark Heuberger, President, and CEO of the Chamber called attention to several new members and thanked the growing list of premier partners who offer valuable resources to the Collierville Chamber throughout the year. He also recognized elected officials, those running for office, and civic leaders in attendance. The day's luncheon was catered by Pimento's Catering As part [...]

Morgan Pettigrew Just Wants to Have Fun Women’s Leadership Network Audience Learns to Blend Business with Creativity Morgan Pettigrew entertained and inspired a receptive crowd at the Collierville Chamber of Commerce’s Women’s Leadership Network luncheon on Thursday, October 20, at the Ridgeway Country Club. Pettigrew, CEO, and founder of the Pettigrew Firm outlined her career path from an early childhood dream of becoming a lawyer to the excitement and fulfillment of that dream…and so much more. Admitting to a proclivity for creativity and with experience working for an interior design firm during her law school days, Pettigrew remembers that [...]

A Conversation with Alex Castle  Today, we speak with Alex Castle, Master Distiller at Old Dominick’s Distillery in Downtown Memphis. Making spirits isn’t as much a job as it is a calling, and Alex Castle found hers early on. As a Kentucky native, there’s a passion for good bourbon that runs deep. As a chemical engineer, there’s a love of the process that takes something simple and makes it sublime. Her talent, passion and creativity are why she was supervising Wild Turkey’s 24-hour-a-day operation at only 24 years old. For her many accomplishments and tireless pursuit of [...]

A Conversation with Andrew Douglas  Andrew Douglas, is the Morning and Digital Desk Anchor for Action News 5. Since 2006, Andrew has been proud to work for Action News 5, the first station to broadcast in the State of Tennessee and the first to send a broadcast TV signal into Mississippi. He loves the generosity and friendliness of Memphis. Andrew takes his responsibility to give back to the community seriously. In addition to his annual support of the United Way charities, he hosts and emcees events and fundraisers all across the Mid-South throughout the year. Some of [...]

A Conversation with Jill Haag Jill Haag (pronounced Hague) is the Executive Director of Southern Reins for Equine Therapy. Jill has spent around eight years in the Memphis area. Before Southern Reins, she was employed as the Executive Director of EQUI-KIDA Therapeutic Riding Program in Virginia Beach. Jill’s been involved with the nonprofit industry since 1996. We talk with her about Southern Reins, what they do, and how Southern Reins is one of the best nonprofits in Collierville. Southern Reins Resources Website: www.southernreins.org Facebook: facebook.com/southernreins Instagram: instagram.com/southern.reins.equine.therapy Twitter: twitter.com/southernreins Donate: https://www.southernreins.org/scholarship [...]

Economic Development: Challenges and Exciting Opportunities Brooxie Carlton Offers Information, Inspiration and Insight at Monthly Membership Meeting Brooxie Carlton, Assistant Commissioner of Community and Rural Development for the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development, addressed the Monthly Membership Meeting of the Collierville Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday, September 14, at First Baptist Church of Collierville. The luncheon was expertly catered by Bailey’s Executive Catering. Prior to Carlton’s presentation, recognition of the 2022 academic year began in earnest and in stellar fashion with the introduction of Collierville High School’s Student of the Month, Marissa Lu. Collierville High School Principal Roger [...]

A Conversation with Herbie Krisle  Herbie Krisle is the Executive Director of Page Robbins Adult Day Center. It’s a position she’s held since 2005. Prior to her work here, Herbie spent 11 years at the MidSouth Food Bank, 11 years with Malone and Hyde/Fleming Wholesale Grocers, and 5 years with the UT Agricultural Extensions Service as a 4-H Club Agent. Her bio on the Page Robbins website describes her as “the queen of leadership, answering questions, giving advice, making decisions, team cheerleading, donor and community engagement, advocacy, strategy, and vision” We talk with Herbie about her extensive [...]

UTHSC’s Chancellor Dr. Peter Buckley Addresses Collierville Chamber Crowd Detailing major goals of the school, Buckley outlined four areas: accomplishing the UTHSC mission; impacting health across the state; fulfilling Tennessee’s health care demands, and partnering with communities like Collierville. Dr. Peter Buckley, Chancellor of the University of Tennessee Health Sciences Center (UTHSC) informed and entertained a group of Collierville business leaders on August 18 at the Collierville Chamber of Commerce. He was accompanied by Love Collins, Vice Chancellor of Strategy and Implementation and Vice Chancellor Development Greg Harris, also a Collierville Chamber board member. A native of Dublin, Ireland, and [...]