EO Nashville’s Founding President Rejoins Chapter

EO Nashville is happy to welcome back the chapter’s founding president, Bill Kimberlin, as one of our new crop of members. In addition to serving as our chapter’s first president, Bill also served on the YEO international board for two terms. (When Bill started our chapter back in 1994, EO was known as the Young Entrepreneur’s Organization – YEO.)

Bill started the Nashville YEO chapter in October 1994 after meeting a YEO member in Chicago. Eager to join, Bill contacted the international office and set in motion the process for starting a chapter. In its infancy, Nashville YEO had just nine members.

Starting Nashville’s YEO is just one of Bill’s many achievements. He has a knack for spotting demographic and consumer trends and using them to create successful businesses. He was the founder and president of OBJ Marketing Corporation, a company that grew into a 300-store distribution channel before negotiating its sale. He was also a partner and investor in Sixteenth Ave Sound, the second largest recording studio on Music Row, which recorded artists such as Hank Williams, Jr., Bon Jovi, Stevie Wonder and Vanessa Williams. Furthermore, he served as president and CEO of Concorde Holdings, a business acceleration and private investment firm. He was also an early investor in Homegrocer.com, before its $1.2 billion sale to WebVan.

From 2004-09, Bill acted as founder and president of MedCareMD, a national diabetic shoe and supplies company. Currently, he serves as founder and CEO of Medicare.com, which performs online marketing and lead generation services for national healthcare suppliers and carriers.

Bill is excited to be back in a group that’s become everything he dreamed about in 1994. He recently attended an event for new candidates and described its impact on him, “For me, it was an out of body of experience. The group has its own life. It’s maintaining and growing. I’m excited to see how all the members benefit from it.”

To learn more about Bill, check out his member profile here.

Bill Kimberlin – EO Nashville Member Profile

Bill Kimberlin

Bill Kimberlin

My company is…

Medicare.com 

Alma mater…

Brentwood High School, Belmont University

Spouse, kids, pet…

Wife: Amy

The town I was born in…

Nashville

Non-profit I support…

EO, Church, Whoever knocks on the front door

Favorite place to vacation…

Machu Picchu, Peru
Caribbean

New in my playlist…

Crazy by Gnarls Barkley
Party Rock Anthem by LMFAO
Mind Killer by Freeland
Shark Attack by Limp Bizkit (Explicit) It’s a wakeboarding thing… ;-)
Raise Up by Saliva (Another wakeboarding tune.)

What I’m reading…

Email’s mostly

Favorite restaurant…

Virago, Kayne Prime Steakhouse

Favorite honky-tonk…

Tootsies, TinRoof 2

Best business advice you have ever received…

I have three things that are the best:

  1. If it doesn’t look good on the front page of the Wall Street Journal, don’t do it.
  2. Never carry someone longer than their Mother did.
  3. Crazy always wins. (long story)

If I wasn’t an entrepreneur I’d be…

Homeless and unemployable

Wish I had more time for…

Wakeboarding, Snowboarding, Fishing, Sleeping

I would do just about anything for…

Cigarette, but I won’t. Quit years ago.

The best thing about EO…

Not having to search far for experienced advice.

To learn more about Bill, and his long history with EO (Hint: He was the chapter’s founding president), click here.

‘Catalyst’ Business Accelerator Accepts 20 Entrepreneurs into Inaugural Class

CatalystThe EO Nashville chapter and the Nashville Entrepreneur Center (EC) announced yesterday the local business owners who will partake in the inaugural ‘Catalyst’ class, a program designed to help entrepreneurs grow their companies past the key benchmark of $1 million in annual sales.

The EO/EC organized 18-month Catalyst program began yesterday.

The first Catalyst class consists of 20 members. Members are founders, co-founders, owners and controlling shareholders of local companies. Catalyst companies employ a total of 88 individuals, with average annual gross revenues of $386,000.

The class includes:

  • Evan Austill, Co-Founder and COO, PatientCredit, Inc.
  • Jeff Bradford, President and CEO, the Bradford Group
  • Blake Chaffin, Owner and General Manager/President, Nashville Event Lighting
  • Frank Drummond, Founder and CEO, mimijumi
  • Diane Durand, Managing Director, Alphachimp Studio, Inc.
  • Trevor Emerson, President, Local Search Masters
  • David Frederiksen, CEO, PatientCredit, Inc.
  • Brad Hill, Owner, Local Search Masters
  • Alicia Jones, President, West End Interiors, LLC
  • Boris Jordanov, Owner, Valuant Technologies
  • Jake Jorgovan, Co-Founder and President, Rabbit Hole Creative, LLC
  • Joe Kustelski, Co-Founder and CTO, Rockhouse Partners
  • Brian Law, President, Global Technology Advisory Group
  • Scott Mele, President, SolarTek Energy of Nashville, Inc.
  • Bethany Newman, Co-Owner and President, ST8MNT, Inc.
  • Kate O’Neill, Founder and CEO, [meta]marketer, Inc.
  • William Paddock, Founder and Managing Director, WAP Sustainability
  • Christopher Redhage, Co-Founder and Executive Vice President, ProviderTrust
  • Amy Tanksley, Founder and Owner, Uncle Classic Barbershop
  • Lisa York, Founder and Chief Manager, puka, LLC

With industries ranging from energy and manufacturing, to marketing and design, this first Catalyst class will bring a wide range of experiences and interests to the table. At the same time it’s a distinctly Nashville group, with the health care, technology and entertainment industries well represented.

The program offers three distinct benefits: education, experience sharing and mentorship.

  • Education: The program will kickoff with 12 biweekly classes taught by EO Nashville member Michael Burcham, president and CEO of the EC.
  • Experience Sharing: At the conclusion of the classes, Catalyst participants will be broken into smaller peer-to-peer forum groups. The groups will meet monthly for 12 months.
  • Mentorship: Catalyst members will also engage in one-on-one mentorship with an EO Nashville member.

EO Nashville Members in the News

Three EO Nashville members were featured in this week’s Nashville Business Journal. John Kepley (Teknetex), Clint Smith (Emma) and Michael Burcham (Entrepreneur Center) were all named to the NBJ’s Technology Power Leaders list. Check out their bios below to read more.

John Kepley

Clint Smith

Michael Burcham

Also, the NBJ’s “Spotlight on Entrepreneurs” focused on the continued work on StartUp Tennessee, a project that Michael Burcham heads. See the below clip for more information.

Firms wait at the starting line

EO Members in the News: Ben Goldberg

Last week, the Nashville Scene posted its “Innovation Issue,” which featured 10 forward-thinking ideas that are pushing Nashville — and the world — into the future.

Idea #2 happened to be EO Nashville member Ben Goldberg and his brother’s new restaurant, The Catbird Seat.

The article cited the new restaurant’s concept that demolishes the barrier between chefs and customers as the reason it made the list.

The Catbird Seat is small — just 30 seats around a U-shaped bar in a little dining room atop the Goldbergs’ chic cocktail bungalow, Patterson House. Two co-chefs will work inside the improbably small space in the center of the U, cooking on a tiny kitchen island and serving dishes directly to the diners seated around them.

You can read the full article here.

EO Nashville and the Inc. 500|5000 List

1 in 4 Nashville Area Companies to Make the 2011 Inc. 500|5000 List are EO Nashville Members

Of the current 88 EO Nashville members, 15% have been named to the Inc. 500|5000 list of the fastest-growing private companies in America.

EO Nashville member companies also make up 25% of Nashville-based companies on the Inc. 500|5000 list. Statewide, EO Nashville members account for 12% of Tennessee-based companies on the list.

Member companies who made the Inc. 500|5000 list are:

  • Advanced Network Solutions (#3232), Sonny Clark, Founder and President
  • Concept Technology, Inc. (#2516), James Fields, Founder and President
  • Crosslin & Associates (#3763), Justin Crosslin, Principal
  • Document Solutions, Inc. (#1662), Tom Turner, Co-Founder and President
  • Emma (#1610), Clint Smith, Co-Founder and CEO
  • Fastsigns (#2055), Scott Snoyer, Owner
  • LetterLogic (#2682), Sherry Stewart Deutschmann, Founder and CEO
  • Metova (#492), Kevin Ross, President and Founder
  • Midsouth Consulting Group (#3923), Jason Carpenter, CEO
  • OptiMech (#3911), Tim Page, Executive Vice President
  • Paramore-Redd Online Marketing (#2974), Hannah Paramore, President
  • Randa Solutions (#388), Marty Reed, President and CEO
  • Vaco Resources, LLC (#3895), Jerry Bostelman, Founder

According to the magazine, companies are chosen for the list by comparing revenue growth from 2007 to 2010. Companies must be U.S.-based, privately held, independent, for-profit and not a subsidiary or division of another company. Revenues in 2007 must have been at least $100,000 and at least $2 million for 2010.

The full list can be accessed here.

EO Nashville Members in the News: Bryan Ansley & Michael Burcham

Bryan Ansley

Bryan Ansley

Two EO Nashville members, Bryan Ansley (FNB Merchants) and Michael Burcham (Entrepreneur Center) were included in articles today from the Wall Street Journal.

Bryan was quoted in the feature article, “Relax. Have Fun. Get Inspired.” The article was about how vacations can bring insight and inspiration and actually be good for your business. Bryan’s section, entitled “A New Perspective,” talks about how a trip to Blood Mountain in Georgia gave him insight about business planning. Read the full article here.

Michael Burcham

Michael Burcham

The article “Where the Action Is” talks about Nashville’s thriving health care industry, noting that two-thirds of the start-ups enrolled at Michael Burcham’s Entrepreneur Center are related to health care.

Congratulations Bryan and Michael.

Alex Tolbert – EO Nashville Member Profile

Alex Tolbert

Alex Tolbert

My company is…

Bernard Health

Alma mater…

The Wharton School (BS), University of Pennsylvania (BA), Vanderbilt University (JD/MBA)

Spouse, kids, pet…

Wife, Erin.  Dog, Molly.

The town I was born in…

Peoria, Illinois

Non-profit I support…

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Middle Tennessee

New in my playlist…

Wavin’ Flag, K’naan

What I’m reading…

Little Bets, Peter Sims

Favorite restaurant…

Zumi Sushi

Favorite honky-tonk…

Paradise Park

Best business advice you have ever received…

It was in the form of a question: “If you were going to tackle the problem you’re describing without raising any money, how would you do it?”

The best thing about EO…

Well, I’m new, but it sure seems like it is going to be our forum!

EO Nashville Grows 32%

Adds 21 new members since start of 2011

Following a record-breaking fall recruitment, the Nashville EO chapter again broke recruitment molds, adding 21 members since the beginning of 2011, and securing its place as one of the fastest growing EO chapters in the world.

EO Nashville has grown 32% over the last 12 months. The growth is due to more than just adding new members—96% of existing members recently renewed their memberships as well.

The 21 new members of EO Nashville are:

Michael Berman is founder and CEO of Network Contract Solutions, a leading provider of contract management solutions. He has worked as general counsel for Goldleaf Financial Solutions, Inc., Tecniflex, Inc. and Imagic Corporation. He holds degrees from Cornell University and the University of Tennessee.

Robert Collins III founded Wealth Management Group of Tennessee in 2001, after nine years in the insurance and investment industry. His practice focuses on investment strategy, wealth preservation, retirement distribution and legacy planning for the next generation. He attended the University of Mississippi and Belmont University.

Sherry Stewart Deutschmann founded LetterLogic, Inc. in 2002 from in the basement of her home. The fast-growing manufacturing and business services provider, prints and mails statements, letters and invoices for other business, primarily in the healthcare sector. Deutschmann also speaks for national women’s organizations, publicizing the benefits of employee-centric cultures.

Michael Hodges has been president and CEO of Advance Financial since 1998. He has grown the company from three locations to 26 with over 200 employees, making it the leading provider of alternative financial services in Middle Tennessee. He attended the University of Tennessee.

Aimee Johns is well known in the music industry, not for her music, but for her unique style and unmatched client service. Her award-winning designer boutiques, Flavour and Flavour Men, cater to the music industry as well as professional athletes and everyone in between. Johns previously worked at RCA Records and Arista.

Bill Kimberlin is a proven entrepreneur, founder and investor of numerous businesses. By the age of 27, both Forbes and US News & World Report had recognized him as a leading entrepreneur. Kimberlin currently serves as founder and CEO of Medicare.com. He was the founding president of the Nashville chapter of EO, at the time called Young Entrepreneurs Organization.

Chris Kincade is chief executive officer of The Kincade Group, Inc., a master franchisor in commercial cleaning. He’s led and company for 12 years, managing more than 300 franchises for Bonus Building Care in Nashville, Memphis, Birmingham and South Florida. He attended Vanderbilt University.

Nancy Leach founded Facility Planners, Inc. in 1995, under the concept of coordinating the fields of architecture, interior design, construction and project management with furniture specification, procurement and installation. Leach got her bachelor’s from O’More College and her master’s from Belmont University.

Alan Looney is founder and president of Castle Homes. He serves as the Custom Builders Council president for the Home Builders Association of Middle Tennessee. He is also a member of Builder 20, U.S. Green Building Council, Christian Leadership Concept and the Nashville Chamber of Commerce.

Bert Lyles has spent his career in commercial and residential real estate. Currently the CEO of Showhomes Franchise Corporation, the country’s largest provider of staging services to high-end houses for sale. He has also served for more than 10 years as an adjunct professor at Vanderbilt University’s Graduate School of Business.

Susan Marlow is founder and CEO of Smart Data Strategies, Inc. She is familiar with all facets of the parcel conversion industry, having completed GIS and parcel conversion projects for cities and counties across the United States. She is active in multiple professional organizations, including the Institute for GIS Studies and the Transportation Research Board.

Jackson Miller is an innovative technologist turned entrepreneur. He currently owns Plato’s Closet franchises and is CEO of Bizen, a web-based dashboarding tool that provides insight into the workings of franchises. He has also made significant contributions to many of Nashville’s most noteworthy startups, including Emma, Magazines.com, centresource and BorderJump.

Taylor Milliken is president and CEO of Elite Landscape Company, Inc., a turnkey provider for residential and commercial landscape services. He previously worked for The Tess Company, and attended Volunteer State Community College for engineering.

Miranda Whitcomb Pontes owns Burger Up in the 12South neighborhood. She’s passionate about using organic, locally sourced meat and produce in her establishments. She is currently fostering plans for a second Burger Up location in Cool Springs.

Gene Robertson has owned U.S. Lawns of Nashville, a commercial landscape management franchise, for 12 years. In addition to two Nashville locations, he has locations in Clarksville and Murfreesboro. Robertson graduated from Middle Tennessee State University.

JJ Rosen is the CEO and founder of Atiba Software LLC. He founded Atiba in 1992 to provide IT, programming, Web development, database design, and project management services to clients of all types and sizes including the District Attorneys Office and the State of Tennessee Department of Human Services. He graduated from Vanderbilt University.

Kevin Ross is an entrepreneur with a passion for bootstrapping and building profitable, sustainable companies that make a difference. He founded the mobile software company, Metova, Inc. in 2006. Three offices later, Metova now ranks among the best in the world in mobile application development. He graduated from Iowa State University.

Suzanne Sevier Rowland always had a passion for sewing clothes, but didn’t consider making a career out of the hobby until her late 20s, when she moved to New York City, enrolled in The Fashion Institute of Technology and took a job at the city’s top fabric store, Mood Fabrics. Rowland’s skirts-only line took off in 2004, and sales of Sevier Skirts have doubled every year thereafter.

Alex Tolbert is a team member at Bernard Health, a health insurance advisor. Founded in 2006, Bernard Health now employs 12 employees with offices in Nashville, Indianapolis and Louisville. Tolbert attended the University of Pennsylvania and Vanderbilt University.

George Uribe is president of Guestbooker.com. His television experience includes stints at Fox News Channel, MSNBC and CNN. He serves on the board of governors for The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Mid-South Chapter. He holds degrees from George Washington University and North Carolina State University.

Hart Weatherford is the founder of Farmington Financial Group LLC. He has personally originated and closed over $500 million in mortgage loans in his career. Weatherford has consistently been a “Diamond” and “Platinum” awards of excellence winner by the Mortgage Bankers Association. He is a graduate of the University of Tennessee.

EO Members in the News: Rebecca Donner, Clint Smith, Andy Bailey and Sonny Clark

Today’s Nashville Business Journal includes stories on EO members Rebecca Donner, Clint Smith, Andy Bailey and Sonny Clark.

The “Case Study” on Rebecca’s business, Inner Design Studio, features her firm’s turnkey solutions: “Firm offers turnkey design for health care

The “Executive Profile” on Clint of Emma gives insight into the evolution of the email marketing company.

The story on Andy and Sonny is about a new “Kid Terns” program Andy and Sonny’s EO forum cooked up this summer to inculcate a love of all things entrepreneurial in their children. “Nashville entrepreneurs group shares ‘kid-terns’ to teach business