Industrial Development Board & Chamber of Commerce Host Industry Appreciation Event
July 5, 2011 2:40 pm
The Clarksville Area Chamber of Commerce, Aspire Foundation and Clarksville-Montgomery County Industrial Development Board said thank you to about 1,300 industrial employers and employees Monday as part of the annual Industry Appreciation Day.
Local companies and their employees were invited to two picnics — one at Beachaven Winery for those companies in the industrial park and another at the Clarksville Academy Sports Complex for industries across the river.
The event, hosted by the Chamber and IDB, was sponsored by T.W. Frierson Contractor, Cumberland Bank and Trust, Legends Bank and Batson, Nolan, Pearson, Miller & Joiner Law Firm.
“It’s nice of them to do this for us,” said Stacy Peek of Bridgestone Metalpha while enjoying his lunch at Beachaven Winery.
While the Chamber and IDB have historically had an Industry Appreciation Day, Monday’s event was on a larger scale, said IDB Executive Director Mike Evans. He said fliers were distributed to all industrial class businesses in the city.
“We wanted to let them know that not only do we appreciate their employers, we appreciate them too for everything they do,” Evans said.
In previous years, Industry Appreciation Day included a golf scramble, which usually attracted the upper levels of management at the community’s various companies.
“This event allowed us to reach people we normally would not reach,” Chavez said.
Robert H. Upton, vice president with event sponsor T.W. Frierson, said the day fit in with his company’s “relationship culture.”
T.W. Frierson, he said, while based in Nashville, is very connected to Clarksville through various construction projects, including the original Legends Bank headquarters and now the expansion, the Florim building, Sanderson Pipe, Bridgestone Metalpha and others. The company has been a member of the local Chamber for about 15 years, he said.
“Clarksville is filled with relationship-oriented people who appreciate quality,” he said. “This is a way to say thank you, not only to industry but also to the city.”
Monday was not the first time the IDB and Chamber have partnered with Beachaven Winery for an event. The IDB often hosts corporate visitors and prospects at the winery for meetings. Its location allows for easy access for those with busy schedules and using helicopters and is near the Corporate Business Park for tours.
Beachaven owner Ed Cooke, who owns the winery with his wife Louisa, said they want to support the efforts of the IDB and other Economic Development Council agencies in any way possible.
“Clarksville needs its industries,” he said. “We’re promoting Clarksville. That’s part of what we do — let people know Clarksville is a cool place.”
Thomya Jenkins, Business Editor
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