Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce Announces Spirit of the Region Award Recipients
With a sold-out crowd of nearly 500 attendees at Nissan Stadium’s West Club, the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce hosted our biggest celebration of the year on Thursday, September 26.
The Nashville Chamber recognized six individuals who are propelling the region forward by devoting their time and energy to helping advance key regional priorities. Award recipients include former Governor Bill Haslam, Milton Johnson, Renata Soto, Jerry Williams, Nick Zeppos and posthumously David Williams II.
“Since 2008, the Chamber’s annual awards have honored individuals and companies that have contributed the most toward our organization’s purpose of creating economic prosperity by facilitating community leadership,” said Ralph Schulz, President and CEO of the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce. “These individuals embody the Chamber’s brand promise to belong, engage, lead and prosper while helping position Middle Tennessee for continued success.”
AWARD RECIPIENTS
Bill Haslam, Governor of Tennessee
From 2011-2019, Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam advanced the state in education, infrastructure and job creation. Under Drive to 55, he set a goal to increase the percentage of Tennesseans with a post-secondary degree or credential to 55 percent by 2025. He introduced Tennessee Promise, making the state the first to offer tuition-free community and technical college to high school seniors, as well as Tennessee Reconnect, which allows adults to return to higher education to earn a degree or credential. Gov. Haslam also initiated the IMPROVE Act, increasing the gas tax to fund transportation infrastructure while authorizing local governments to fund transit projects through public referendum. Gov. Haslam concluded his final months in office by announcing the largest jobs commitment in state history with the establishment of Amazon’s Operations Center of Excellence in Nashville, creating 5,000 high-paying jobs and more than $230 million in investment.
Milton Johnson, Chairman and CEO, HCA Healthcare (retired)
Milton Johnson has been a positive force in Nashville, supporting opportunity and prosperity for the larger Nashville community. While leading Nashville-based HCA Healthcare, one of the nation’s largest healthcare providers, Johnson served as co-chair of the Chamber’s Partnership 2020 initiative in 2013, vice chair of the Chamber board in 2015 and board chair from 2016 to 2018. During this period of significant economic growth, Johnson’s leadership has been notable for his commitment to furthering Middle Tennesseans’ access to education, opportunity and prosperity.
Renata Soto, Co-founder and Executive Director, Conexión Américas (retired)
Renata Soto is a champion for Tennessee’s Latino and immigrant communities. She co-founded Conexión Américas in 2002, which supports more than 8,000 immigrant families annually. As a founder of the Nashville for All of Us Coalition, she helped lead the defeat of a 2009 English Only referendum. Soto is the visionary behind Casa Azafrán, a nonprofit collaborative that has become the de-facto gateway to Nashville’s International District. Through this work, she has been a leading force in solidifying Nashville’s reputation as a welcoming and inclusive city.
David Williams II, Vice Chancellor for Athletics and University Affairs and Athletics Director, Vanderbilt University (retired) Posthumous Award
The late David Williams II made an extraordinary impact on the Nashville community. As the first African American vice chancellor at Vanderbilt, he increased student readiness with an emphasis on life and study skills. Leading Vanderbilt Athletics, he elevated the student athlete experience and recognized the broader impact sports have on society. Williams’ community commitment was evident in the more than 10 nonprofit boards he served, including chairing the United Way, Nashville Public Education Foundation and the Atlanta Federal Reserve’s Nashville branch. Williams’ legacy continues through the many lives he impacted and the initiatives he championed to move Nashville forward.
Jerry Williams, Executive Director, Leadership Nashville (retired)
Having served as Leadership Nashville’s executive director for 25 years, Jerry Williams led more than 1,100 community, nonprofit and business leaders through a life-changing experience that strengthened Nashville’s leadership capacity. She made a powerful mark on Nashville through her belief – evident in Leadership Nashville – that leaders must first understand the issues and various points of view before they can most effectively build solutions. Williams has also provided critical leadership through service on numerous nonprofit boards, including the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee, Junior League, Nashville Public Library Foundation and the Nashville Public Education Foundation.
Nick Zeppos, Chancellor Emeritus
Having served as Vanderbilt’s chancellor from 2008 to 2019, Nick Zeppos made a lasting impact on one of Nashville’s most critical institutions. His commitment to access and equity is evident through Opportunity Vanderbilt, a program that allows for the recruitment of an even more accomplished and diverse student population. Zeppos worked to ensure a welcoming and inclusive campus environment while leading the strategic separation of the university from Vanderbilt University Medical Center to ensure long-term sustainability of both institutions. He has been a strong advocate for academic research funding, understanding the immense value that research universities provide the public.
You can read more about the Spirit of the Region award recipients, the Chamber’s accomplishments and the work of its members and investors in this year’s annual report.