Diamond Young

Lenore Trammell is the last remaining Day 1 employee at Big River Steel.

She’s played a huge role in shaping Chairman’s Circle investor Big River Steel, which is headquartered in Osceola, Ark., a town of about 6,500 an hour north of Memphis.

Big River Steel is a “technology company that happens to make steel,” using digital technology to optimize production.   The highly advanced, sustainable mill combines an electric arc furnace with the only endless strip production line in the country.   That ESP line allows for rapid, low-emission, high-quality steel production from recycled scrap for automotive, solar and construction companies.   The company uses up to 90 percent recycled steel and is the first North American steel producer to be certified by ResponsibleSteel.

A native of a Detroit suburb, Lenore began her career in sales at Rogue Steel and was promoted to assistant general counsel as the company became Severstal Dearborn.  There, she managed complex legal and commercial matters, including negotiating and implementing a $1.3 billion capital expenditure program, overseeing a $100 million capital equipment purchase contract and saving more than $5 million by resolving potential liability claims.  She also led procurement supporting more than $100 million in annual spend.

Over time, Lenore built a reputation for “negotiating and drafting multimillion-dollar contracts” and ensuring compliance across complex transactions.

Lenore was recruited from the Detroit area – with a population of 4.4 million people – by Big River Steel  in tiny Osceola.   She admits, “For a big-city girl, I didn’t know what to think.   But we figured it out.  We made it work.   I love living in Osceola and spending time in Memphis.”  The company’s location near rail, I-55 and the Mississippi River was strategic, as was joining the Chairman’s Circle when Big River Steel needed to double its workforce in 12–18 months.  “We needed to have a larger regional reach, so we joined the Chairman’s Circle.   It has really paid off for us,” she said.

Lenore serves as chief administrative officer, chief compliance officer and general counsel of Big River Steel, roles she has helped shape since joining the company in 2014 as a Day 1 employee.  “As soon as Big River Steel closed on their financing, I gave my notice and moved here two weeks later,” she recalls.   Today, she is “the last Day 1 employee left,” having grown with the company to 1,850 employees across two Northeast Arkansas facilities “almost next door to each other—you can see one from the other.”

In 2019, while continuing as chief compliance officer and general counsel, she was promoted to CAO and now serves on the executive committee and as executive sponsor of Big River’s NextGen, the company’s employee resource group.

She is also co-chair of the Chairman’s Circle Workforce Task Force and was recently elected to the Chamber’s board of directors.

Lenore’s path into steel was unexpected.  “I started in steel a year out of undergrad as a temp employee.  I was headed to law school, but they asked me to stay and said they would pay for law school.  I said yes (duh!) and worked full time while going to law school at night,” she said.   Initially, she “did not have an interest in steel at all,” but now says, “I am very happy with my career choice.   My career in steel has taken me to places I never thought I’d go.” In a male-dominated industry, she describes herself as “very much a unicorn.”

Active in the Arkansas Chamber, the Women’s Foundation of Arkansas—where she was named 2024 Woman of the Year in Business—and other civic organizations, Lenore will also soon become an author with the upcoming publication of Curating a God Life.   “A lot of people want to have a good life.  But I really think they want the God life,” she said.  Guided by the advice “Chance favors the prepared mind,” she balances leadership with family, Pilates, reading and cheering on her son as his “biggest fan.”

Sarah Jemison was not supposed to come back to Memphis.

A Princeton graduate with a resume rooted in federal housing policy, she had built a meaningful life in Washington, D.C., working on national advocacy for people with the fewest resources and the least margin for error.  Memphis—her hometown, the place where her parents still live, where her father founded a successful property management company more than five decades ago—was not part of the plan.

“I didn’t initially intend to come back,” she said plainly.  “I knew I loved affordable housing and enjoyed working in that field.  But I was working on policy that was really removed from actual homes or actual people living in homes.  It wasn’t tangible enough for me.”

That distance began to wear on her.  In D.C., Sarah Jemison worked for the National Low Income Housing Coalition, focusing on the housing needs of people living far below the commonly cited “low income” threshold.  In Memphis terms, that meant families earning $12,000 a year or less—people for whom even subsidized rent can feel precarious.

“We’d work on policy that may or may not come to fruition,” she said.  “If we were lucky, our work might have an impact, but it would be something very far in the distance.”

Then came a conversation she nearly didn’t take.

Sarah Jemison agreed to meet with ALCO Management’s head of development, Berkeley Burbank, to talk—casually, she thought—about a potential role on the company’s development team.  ALCO, founded by her father Frank Jemison in 1974, manages affordable housing across the Southeast.  The meeting was meant to be exploratory.

“About five minutes into the conversation,” she recalls, “I was confident that I wanted to come home to Memphis, to ALCO and work on this team—to be in a position where I could work closely with actual homes and actual residents and actual communities.”

She joined Chairman’s Circle investor ALCO Management Inc. at the start of 2018.

Since then, Sarah has served as chief strategy officer and chair of the board, helping guide a company that manages roughly 5,500 apartment homes across 55 communities, housing more than 20,000 people and employing more than 200 team members.  On Jan. 1 she will become president and CEO.

ALCO has been based in Memphis for its entire 50-plus-year history, and Sarah Jemison is clear-eyed about what that longevity requires.

“We know our residents don’t have a lot of options, which means the market doesn’t necessarily dictate that we provide high-quality housing,” she said.  “So it’s incumbent upon us to hold ourselves to a higher standard than demand would suggest— ensuring we provide residents a high-quality place to live, regardless of income.”

ALCO’s work focuses on renovating older properties through federal programs like Section 8 Rental Assistance and Low-Income Housing Tax Credits.  Residents typically pay 30 percent of their income toward rent, with the federal government covering the rest.

“If someone is paying 30 percent of $12,000 a year,” she said, “they deserve the same dignity and quality as anyone else.  Our community will be stronger as a whole if they have a secure foundation from which to build their lives.”

That philosophy extends beyond buildings.  Under Sarah Jemison’s leadership, ALCO has expanded its emphasis on service coordination, partnerships with local nonprofits and employee development.  Positions at ALCO range from roles requiring a high school diploma or GED to those requiring advanced degrees—and Sarah is intentional about making room for growth at every level.

“We’re not just training people to do their jobs,” she said.  “We’re investing in professional development, leadership coaching and long-term careers.  If we want communities to flourish, our employees have to flourish too.”

Sarah’s thinking about housing is inseparable from her thinking about Memphis itself.  She lives near Crosstown, in the Vollintine Evergreen neighborhood, and talks about the city’s creative energy—its artists, entrepreneurs and small businesses.  But she’s also clear that a thriving city cannot be built solely for its most comfortable residents.

“If we want people to choose Memphis, we need a city that is built for all its residents, not just the top 20 percent. For those of us who run companies and often find ourselves in that top quintile, it is easy to feel removed from the experiences of the vast majority of Memphians. Yet our concerns need not be. We all want the same things – we want safety, we want stable families and thriving children, we want well-educated employees and neighbors, we want thriving culture and businesses and we want abundant opportunity, said Sarah.  “That Memphis, one that serves all of its residents, those with and without resources, serves us and our businesses as well.  And it’s built through intentional investment in education, workforce development, community development and social supports – investments that those who run companies are well positioned to champion. And if we do, we can be the force that creates a Memphis that works, not just for us, but for all.”

That perspective is deeply shaped by her experience listening to residents whose lives look nothing like her own upbringing.  And it’s shaped by her family.  “My siblings and I are definitely working with the foundation created for us,” Sarah said.  “My parents have been for their entire careers very invested in Memphis.  My mom, who was a graduate of UT medical school, has worked at Church Health and all across Memphis and now is invested in hospice and palliative care in the city.  My parents have done a great deal to invest in Memphis.  My sister now lives in Greenville, South Carolina, and my brother and I are here, but all three of us are continuing to engage in our communities and try to move them forward with a focus on justice and equity in a way that can advance and move our entire community forward.”

Jemison is careful to reject simplistic narratives about poverty.

“Most people are doing the best they can with what they’ve got,” she said.  “They’re making the best economic choices available to them, even if those decisions are not beneficial for the long term. But a long-term view can be a distant luxury for a mom trying to put food on the table for her kids.  And when you understand the reality of people’s lives—growing up with more trauma, more fear, more stress, fewer resources—the decisions of people living in poverty make sense.”

She talks about dignity often.  About curiosity.  About what happens when policy-makers, business leaders and philanthropists stop assuming they know what’s best and start asking people with lived experience what would actually help.

“We can’t come at this thinking there’s one cause of poverty and one solution,” she said.  “But if we assume the best about people, we can get curious, ask the right questions and together work toward better futures. It will require thoughtful, coordinated and long-term efforts from all of us. Many of those efforts are underway. And I am excited for us, our community’s business leaders, to lean in to support this complex work with compassion, creativity and commitment, not only because it is our civic duty but also because, ultimately, it’s in our own best interest.”

That belief also shapes how she and her family think about philanthropy and development.

“We think a lot about the city we want to have, the Memphis we want to help build,” she said.  “Not what we can extract—but what we’re leaving behind when the project is done.”

That’s also why ALCO, Frank Jemison, and now Sarah Jemison invest in the Chairman’s Circle.  “Memphis needs a lot of things to move it to its highest potential,” Sarah said.  “We need business initiatives to move us forward, we need high-quality, high-paying jobs, support for schools in all parts of the city, connections to jobs now and in the future.   Supporting that connection is ultimately our goal through the Chairman’s Circle.”

Sarah chairs the board for ALCO.  She also serves on the board of Longleaf Partners Funds and the combined board of The Works and Neighborhood Preservation Inc.

What excites her about Memphis?  “I love Memphis,” she said.  “Its potential for creativity and connection.  The people invested in this city and ways to move it forward.  Creative and generous people.  Not just philanthropic people but also people who make investments in this city.  I love to see the way small businesses are growing here.”

Away from work, Jemison finds grounding in her garden.  After days filled with strategy meetings and long-term planning, she relishes the simplicity of tending a small plot of land—planting greenery, arranging bouquets, bringing flowers into the office for coworkers whose favorites she keeps track of.

“It feels manageable,” she said.  “And it reminds me that small, intentional things add up.”

That sensibility—careful, patient, rooted—mirrors how she approaches both housing and Memphis.  Sarah Jemison may not have planned to come home.  But once she did, she committed fully to the long view: quality homes, quality jobs and a city shaped not by fear or distance, but by dignity and connection.

There are many ways to express a love for Memphis.  Laurie Powell does that through respectful, evidence-based mental healthcare.  She was a champion for a new name for her organization to remove some of the stigma that comes from seeking treatment for mental health.

Laurie is CEO of Alliance Healthcare Services.  When she started working there in 1993, the organization was called Southeast Mental Health Center.  “We changed our name to Alliance because of the stigma involved with going into a facility called ‘mental health,’” she said.  And the logo, which capitalizes the “all” in ALLiance, reflects the team’s commitment to bringing mental healthcare to the masses.  “We changed the logo to highlight ‘all’ — it’s ALL of us. Alliance. That ALL is highlighted because it’s going to take all of us, working together as a community,” she said.

Laurie attended the University of Memphis and earned her bachelor’s in sociology. “I thought I wanted to be a sociologist,” she said.  “I did research, statistics, all that.  Then I fell in love with mental health when I did an internship with a psychologist. So I went back and got a master’s in social work and a license in social work  I really like talking to people. I like helping people. So I was a therapist for the first 10 years.”

Her experience as a therapist in South Memphis and Orange Mound revealed much need.

Memphis is a city that’s beginning to realize its potential, thanks in large part to the work of the Greater Memphis Chamber and the Chairman’s Circle.  But there are still large areas of poverty.  And with poverty, there’s often trauma.

“Memphis is a traumatized city,” she said. “Just look at the pockets of poverty and the trauma the kids are experiencing. These kids become adults. If you haven’t addressed that trauma, you don’t know that there is hope, that you can have a career, that you don’t have to be stuck in that cycle of trauma and poverty.”

Laurie recognizes the need for early intervention when a Memphian needs mental healthcare.  One of her early victories at Alliance was securing a grant to provide emergency mental healthcare to people who recently experienced a psychotic break. “The research shows if you’re able to get someone in treatment within the first two years of their psychotic episode and give them the evidence-based treatment, you can help them get employment, go to school,” she said.  People who don’t get the help they need can end up homeless, or worse. Laurie’s grant provided funds to establish “an intensive team of 10 people, including a psychiatrist, a therapist and an employment specialist, who go out into the community,” she said. “They’re giving long-acting injectables for psychosis at hotels. They’re going to homeless shelters doing treatment on the spot.”

Schools are another focus for Alliance under Laurie’s leadership.  “One of my passions has always been early intervention so the school-to-prison pipeline can be diverted,” Laurie said.  Alliance pioneered a program to place mental health liaisons in schools, a program that earned the support of Governor Bill Lee. “The goal is to have a therapist in every school to work with that school, work with families and be a resource, so the therapist comes to you,” she said.  “You don’t have to come to the mental health facility. We do as much community-based work as we can.”

Laurie was born in Newport News, Va.  Her father was a scientist, and she followed her parents to Memphis when she was 19.  She attended the University of Memphis, where she earned a scholarship for a master’s in sociology.  She then earned a master’s in social work from the University of Tennessee Health Science Center.

Laurie married Michael Harrison, a therapist and nurse, just a year after she started working at Alliance.  They had two sons, Ethan, now 23, and Nicholas, now 18.

In 2018 Alliance’s CEO retired, and Laurie applied for the position. “I’d done just about every job there is at Alliance,” she said.  “In my interview, the strategic plan I presented included a crisis center for Memphis.  Too many people are incarcerated who have mental illness and not enough access to care.”  She got the job.

“My husband, Michael, was a big advocate for what I was trying to do,” she said.  “He supported me when I became CEO.  He was my biggest champion and my best friend.  Lots of people don’t have that kind of support in their spouse. When we decided to have kids, he actually changed his whole career to make sure Ethan and Nicholas were taken care of and I could focus on my career. It amazes people when I tell them that story.”

Six years after Laurie became Alliance’s CEO, her dream of a mental health crisis center became a reality.  The $35 million, 55,000-square-foot facility at 3200 Broad Avenue opened this February.

For Laurie, the moment was bittersweet. In 2015, her husband was diagnosed with thyroid cancer. The first round of treatment was successful, but his cancer returned in early 2020.  He died in August 2020.  “I started working on this building right before he died,” Laurie said.  “And it’s been a labor of love for the five years since he died.  He knew this was one of my biggest passions, that I’m going to do this, to see it from the beginning designs and then through the final construction. That did give me something to focus on during the grieving process.”

Laurie said her goal with the new center was to expand access to care and build a crisis facility for adults in Memphis and Shelby County.  “Our community deserves that,” she said.  “We expanded access to care by increasing the number of beds available for detox, crisis stabilization and respite. We added outpatient services to the new crisis location to remove barriers for ongoing care. We have 500 employees with a budget of more than $60 million, with 20 locations throughout Memphis and Shelby County including outpatient, crisis, peer support and housing services.

“Our next phase will be opening a 24/7 crisis facility for children and youth that will remove barriers to care with the goal to divert families in need of immediate behavioral healthcare from waiting in emergency rooms,” she said.  “A long-term vision is to have first responders bring adults and children to the crisis centers who would benefit from immediate treatment instead of incarceration.”

Laurie’s thoughtful leadership for Memphis has been honored.  She was named a 2025 CEO of the Year by Memphis Magazine, an honor shared by the Chamber’s own president and CEO, Ted Townsend.

When she’s not working to meet our community’s mental health challenges, Laurie loves spending time with her family and traveling to new places.  “I love New Mexico,” she said.  “My son Ethan’s wife is from there, and Sante Fe and Taos are my favorite spots.”

Laurie also loves reading.  “I love any book by Jane Austen,” she said.  “I took a class called British Novels in college, and I was hooked. I also love to sing and was in choir my entire youth through college. I love many styles of music.  It is therapy to me.  I even took opera vocal lessons years ago.”

Even though some might find her work a real challenge, Laurie sees wonderful things happening in this community.  “I love living in Memphis,” she said.  “I feel there is a movement growing where we realize we must all work together to lift the community up!  We are all connected.  When I meet with other agency and community leaders, I know we will move this community forward.”

That’s why Laurie and her team invest in the Chairman’s Circle.  “This is one reason Alliance joined the Chairman’s Circle:  We learn more about issues that we can address together.  Together we can solve anything.  Alliance’s mission it to promote wellness in our community, and I think the Chamber and Chairman’s circle want to lift up the community as well.”

Laurie also works to lift the community through service on the boards of the Tennessee Association of Mental Health Organizations, Tennessee Ballet Theatre and the Healing Center.

Laurie has had mentors along the way.  She cites Pastor Diane Young, Pat Morgan and Commissioner Marie Williams.  “These strong women have paved the way in the behavioral health field and are compassionate and wise,” she said.  “My deceased husband was my biggest supporter and advisor.  Without him, I would not be in the position I am in today.”

And how does she feel about the position she’s in now?  “Thirty-one years in mental health – I obviously didn’t do it to be wealthy, you know? I’m passionate about Memphis, and that’s why I’ve stayed here,” she said.

Wouldn’t the world be a whole lot less interesting if Memphis wasn’t in it?

That’s how Chairman’s Circle investor Russ Wigginton describes his passion for Memphis, the hometown he eventually chose after he came here to attend Rhodes College.

Russ has lived in many different places: Louisville, Evansville, Nashville, Youngstown, Boston.  He attended graduate school at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.  After that, a fellowship brought him back to Rhodes and back to Memphis.  And he’s chosen Memphis as his home ever since.

“I came back to Memphis by choice,” he said.  “I was working on my dissertation, and I had a fellowship offer from Rhodes.  But I also had another fellowship offer, at Duke.  And obviously I intended to accept that.  It was Duke, after all.  So I respectfully declined the fellowship at Rhodes.  But Jim Daughdrill, president of Rhodes at the time, invited me back to visit Rhodes, to walk around campus and see some old friends.  I decided I should at least accept his invitation to visit.  Things changed when I got here.  I saw an opportunity at Rhodes and being back in Memphis.  I felt this was where I was supposed to be.  But then I had to call Duke.  Duke kept reminding me how lucky I was to get the offer.  Rhodes was telling me how lucky they would be to have me.  That difference mattered.

“Being back in Memphis was interesting, appealing to me,” he said.  “I wanted community that was distinctive from my job.  There’s no disconnecting from your job in a college town like Durham, where Duke is.  When I was at Rhodes, I wanted to be all in.  But when I was in Memphis, I wanted to be all in.  It’s not like I drew the short straw and came back to Memphis.  I 100 percent came by choice.”

Russ majored in history at Rhodes.  “I also took a lot of business courses,” he said.  “Rhodes didn’t offer minors, but those business courses would’ve amount to a minor at another school.  And I had the influence, the flexibility and the encouragement of my dad, who worked in HR.”  Those fields of study laid the foundation for his career.

Russ worked for marketing research firm Yacoubian Research for three years as an undergrad.  “During a lot of the interviews I had when I got out of college, they were intrigued that I had worked in marketing research.  I was used to completing surveys by phone, getting opportunities to engage with people in short intervals so we could get information.  Once I started working in sales and marketing, being a history major helped a lot.  I worked for Oscar Mayer, where I studied trends and patterns of the past and used that information to justify my quarterly advertising promotions.  My competitors were reacting week to week, and I was thinking quarterly.  That long-term view based in my education in history gave us an advantage in the market.

“What I wasn’t predicting was what I would do for the long haul.  But I knew working in sales and marketing would serve me well,” he said.  “I found myself often in these liaison roles between people and between organizations.  I like engaging with people, connecting with people.  That combined with a few leadership roles, and I started to branch out.  It’s not like I overthought where my career was going.  I was just trying to get some professional footing where I had some affinity and just let the future unfold.”

Leadership came naturally to Russ.  He was president of the Black Student Association during his junior year at Rhodes.  During his 23 years at Rhodes, he had a different job every four or five years.  “It’s not like I planned it that way,” he said.  “It’s just how I move.  I like challenges.  I like the journey, the goals.  The journey is as important as the destination.  Then I’m ready for the next journey.  At Rhodes I had the opportunity to take all these journeys.”

But now he’s president at the National Civil Rights Museum, and this is where he plans to spend the rest of his career.  “This will be my last full-time job,” he said.  “There’s a symbiotic relationship between the city and the museum.  Opened in 1991, the museum honors a pivotal moment.  It’s recognition of a place and an era our city struggled with and struggled through.  It’s the motel and the city struggling with the taint of where Dr. King was killed.  The museum set the stage for us to take a tragedy and make it something that could feed our spirit.  And not just in Memphis, but to take that and transfer it to the rest of the county and the world.

“The Museum has served as the town square for our city.  A place for everybody,  A place where differences get minimalized or deemphasized, where we become simply members of the Memphis community.  There are only a few special places where that happens.  Maybe Grizzlies games, Tigers games, at Live at the Garden or Tom Lee Park.  And at the National Civil Rights Museum.  We need each other.  We rely on each other.  It’s a ‘we’re all in this together’ kind of situation,” he said.

With its reach, the National Civil Rights Museum has lots of opportunities for partnerships.  And Russ said the Chairman’s Circle is one of the museum’s most valuable.  “We are intentional about our partnerships, and we consider them in various tiers of possibility,” said Russ.  “Real intentionality is that top tier, the partnerships where we strategically work together in ways that are mutually beneficial.  I would put the Chairman’s Circle in that top tier because it’s a natural way for us to be in space and conversation where supporters and the museum can have win-win opportunities.  It’s important.”

Russ points to the impact the National Civil Rights Museum has on Memphis.  “We have a responsibility given who we are to be immersed in the work of the Chamber,” he said.  “We draw a lot of visitors to Memphis.  When people are exposed to Memphis, they can impact businesses of all sizes in this community.  We can be catalyst in that regard.”

Russ sees both personal and professional benefits in his service to the community.  He currently serves on the boards of the Community Foundation, ARTSMemphis, BRIDGES, Code Crew, Tennessee SCORE and Rhodes College.  “I don’t walk into a lot of rooms where I don’t know anyone,” he said.  “I’ve been able to do things in this community because of those relationships.”

Russ encourages Memphians to experience Memphis.  “Depending on what’s happening in your world – or the world – it’s a different experience.  When you travel, you try new restaurants, museums, zoos, galleries.  I want more people who live here to do that here.  It keeps you familiar and appreciative of what we have here.  People do that in another city and they talk about how great that place is.  But if you do that in Memphis, you will have distinct experiences that people in most cities don’t have.  It’s a way to remind yourself there’s a lot here to be appreciated.  If you’re not already inclined to think like that, it’s easy to trickle away from that mindset.”

Russ is married to Tomeka Hart Wigginton, president and CEO of United Way of the Mid-South.  “Tomeka is a native Memphian who has had an interesting and fascinating career.  She has lived all over the country, too.  But we both see Memphis as home.  We’re here by choice.”

The Wiggintons have a son studying clinical and community psychology in graduate school at Vanderbilt following his graduation magna cum laude from University of Richmond.  “School is natural for him,” said Russ.

Russ and Tomeka spend two weeks at Martha’s Vineyard each August.  “It’s a fascinating time when black people from all over the country gather for an annual arts and cultural celebration.  There’s a film festival, artists of all types, professional engagement opportunities.  There’s acknowledgement of the part of the ocean that’s call the Inkwell where African Americans used to be relegated to that part of the beach.  It’s now a sacred spot.  It’s a fascinating experience.  We just love it.  When we leave, we’ve already booked for the next year.”

Russ said he reads Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s Letter from a Birmingham Jail at least annually.  “It’s one of the most provocative writings that’s ever been produced in this country,” said Russ.  He enjoys playing golf, whether alone or with others.  “I don’t play nearly as much as I’d like to,” he said.  “I love the camaraderie, but playing by yourself can be therapeutic.”

His parents were his role models.  Like his dad, Russ is the primary cook in his household.  “I grew up watching my dad cook, so I thought that was natural,” he said.  “We even exchanged recipes.”  Also like his dad, Russ collects music.  “My dad was a music collector for 60 years,” Russ said.  “He accumulated about 15,000 albums, most of which he kept in a small warehouse.  I grew up listening to all genres, a real mature mix of music.  I have a rather extensive and eclectic album collection myself, about 500 or so, most that I inherited from my father.  I don’t play an instrument, but my entire collection is pretty special, jazz greats, blues greats.”

And now that he’s been in Memphis for almost 40 years, how does he feel about the city he’s chosen?  “In some ways, the same things that made me come here in 1984 as a college student are the things that excite me today” he said.  “It really is the depth and richness of our culture here.  It’s the combination of our city’s history, the trials and tribulations of that, how all of that feeds into our best days, how we move, the rhythm of the city, how we interact.  How who we are comes through in the arts and cultural aspects of our city.  On our best days, how we show up with the fighting spirit shows up in a powerful way.

“I like the us against the world disposition.  While I don’t love it all the time, all those things that work against us, there’s a dimension that’s good for us,” he said.  “It’s a huge part of what makes us who we are.  Who we are is who we are.  To get over ourselves is good for us to reach our potential.  For us to not be some other city.  Find our voice in who we are.  No one can out-Memphis us.  In my thinking about this city I have landed on a new phrase: ‘Wouldn’t the world be a whole lot less interesting if Memphis wasn’t in it?’  All the dimensions.  We do not fully understand that all parts of this community are an essential dimension to this world in ways that would be a whole lot less interesting.

“We take so many things for granted,” Russ said.  “When things happen, you can’t manufacture it.  You can’t make it be.  It just is.  We can out-Memphis anybody.  Let’s just be Memphis.  Not only is that good enough – It’s better.”

 

There are a few things that might surprise people about Tyrone Burroughs, President and CEO at First Choice Global Sales and Merchandising Group, such as his passion for cycling. Several times a week, you can find him riding the Greenline or exploring various parts of the city, savoring freedom and fresh air. Outside of cycling, Tyrone finds joy in traveling, spending quality time with family and mentoring others. He is deeply fulfilled by working on initiatives that create meaningful change, whether in business, the church or the community. Sometimes, a quiet moment of reflection or an enriching conversation with loved ones is his perfect way to unwind. While he enjoys relaxing getaways, he is also drawn to destinations steeped in history and culture. Whether it’s a peaceful tropical retreat or a city with a rich heritage, Tyrone values experiences that offer both rest and inspiration.

Tyrone shared these details and more for this profile:

Early Life

Born and raised in Lane, S.C., Tyrone earned a Bachelor of Arts in history and political science from Benedict College. While pursuing graduate studies at the University of South Carolina, Tyrone earned a Master of Arts in Teaching in elementary education and met his future wife, Nelda. The couple married in 1981 and moved to Memphis in 1985. Tyrone earned a Master of Business Administration from Benedict College in 2025.

Business Career

As president of First Choice Global Sales and Merchandising Group, Tyrone leads a diversified portfolio of companies spanning consumer goods, real estate, finance, hospitality and community impact initiatives. Recognized for his ability to identify growth opportunities, drive innovation and build strategic partnerships, he has established himself as a catalyst for market expansion and business transformation.

In 1987, Tyrone founded First Choice Global Sales and Merchandising Group, pioneering innovative retail distribution strategies that have positioned the company as a leader in the $1.7 trillion multicultural personal care market. Headquartered in Memphis, First Choice employs more than 100 professionals and has been recognized for its strategic growth solutions, helping global consumer goods manufacturers, retailers and distributors drive revenue and market expansion.

In addition to First Choice, he oversees a portfolio of business ventures and investments including First Choice Opportunity Fund, South City LP, Beau Ventures LLC, MG Capital Holdings Inc., 115 Union Ave LLC, The Pocket Bistro and R.S. Lewis & Sons Funeral Home. In 2019 he expanded his business holdings with the launch of Burroughs Restaurant Group Inc., securing U.S. Mid-South franchise rights for Guthrie’s Chicken Restaurants.

Community Involvement

Tyrone serves on numerous corporate, civic and nonprofit boards where he provides strategic guidance on economic development, financial oversight and community engagement. He is the vice chair of the Benedict College Board of Trustees. He currently holds board positions with the Guaranty Bank & Trust Company, Greater Memphis Chamber – Chairman’s Circle, Tennessee Lottery Commission, St. Jude Memphis African American Engagement Council, Memphis Theological Seminary, WKNO board of trustees, Metropolitan Baptist Church board of trustees, Faith-based & Community Initiative Foundation, Memphis NAACP Branch board of directors, Youth Villages and the Global Beauty Alliance board. His past board service includes the Federal Reserve Bank – Memphis Branch, Ronald McDonald House, Regional One Health hospital board and the Shelby County Convention Center board.

Burroughs Foundation

In 2010, Tyrone and Nelda established The Burroughs Foundation, a philanthropic organization focused on financial literacy, workforce development and higher education access. The foundation has provided scholarships, mentorship and funding for students across the country, supported faith-based and social initiatives and led community investment efforts both domestically and internationally. His philanthropic contributions also include mission work in China, local food distribution programs and healthcare support for underserved communities.

Special Recognitions

In 2017, Benedict College recognized Tyrone for his contributions to business, education and philanthropy by renaming its School of Business and Economics to the Tyrone Adam Burroughs School of Business and Entrepreneurship. That same year, Benedict College awarded him an honorary doctorate of humane letters. He is a 2021 inductee of The Society of Entrepreneurs and a recipient of the Distinguished Citizen Award from the Boy Scouts of America. He was also placed on the prestigious Memphis Business Journal Power 100, recognizing the most influential business leaders in the region. Tyrone and Nelda are the recipients of the 2024 Crystal Awards for Outstanding Philanthropist given by the Association of Fundraising Professionals.

Commitment to Memphis

Memphis is a city brimming with potential, and his company is dedicated to contributing to its continued growth and success.

The company is unwavering in its commitment to advancing Memphis by fostering economic growth, creating meaningful jobs and empowering local businesses. Through First Choice Global Sales and Merchandising Group, the company supports brands to thrive in the retail sector, driving significant economic impact in Memphis and beyond.  Broader initiatives, including real estate development and job creation, are built on the core belief that a stronger Memphis benefits all its residents.

The company proudly joined the Chairman’s Circle, recognizing the power of collective leadership in shaping the future of the city. By collaborating with fellow business and civic leaders, he aims to drive transformative changes – whether in workforce development, entrepreneurship or community investment.

Memphis is a city defined by resilience, rich culture and boundless opportunity. Tyrone said what truly excites him is Memphis’ vibrant entrepreneurial spirit and the continuous evolution that drives it forward. The city’s deep-rooted history, from its musical legacy to its pivotal role in the Civil Rights Movement, instills a profound sense of purpose. “I am proud to be part of initiatives that not only honor this legacy, but also foster economic empowerment and create lasting opportunities for others,” he said.

Family

Tyrone is a man of unwavering faith, and he said that the best advice he’s ever received is to cultivate a strong spiritual foundation and to find a life partner who shares your determination and work ethic. For him, family is everything. He feels blessed with a supportive, loving family that believes in lifting one another up. His brother, Bryant, has displayed incredible resilience in his health journey, and his sister, Ruth, possesses a heart full of compassion and generosity. Together with Nelda, Tyrone is committed to giving back to the community, striving to build a lasting legacy that will positively impact future generations.

Despite his numerous achievements, he considers his greatest success to be the educational and professional accomplishments of his children, all of whom have earned college degrees and postgraduate credentials and built successful careers.

Most Influential Person

One of the most influential figures in Tyrone’s life was his best friend, David Cooper. David’s unwavering loyalty, profound wisdom and invaluable partnership in both business and life had a lasting impact. One of the most impactful pieces of advice Tyrone received was: “Always add value wherever you go. If you help enough people achieve their goals, your own success will naturally follow.”

Favorite Book or Movie

Tyrone has a deep appreciation for books and movies that inspire and challenge our way of thinking. Whether it’s a biography of a remarkable leader or a film that portrays a powerful story of perseverance, he is drawn to narratives that emphasize resilience, faith and purpose. These stories resonate with him, offering both insight and inspiration to navigate life’s challenges.

Sometimes, a great loss can put you on a path to something great.  That’s what happened for Kevin Kimery, founding member of Kimery Wealth Management and a Chairman’s Circle investor.

After the death of his father, Kevin received a small inheritance.  The 18-year-old college student was an aspiring investor, so he called two investment firms:  Merrill Lynch and E.F. Hutton.  He convinced a young investment advisor to take his account.

Shortly after that, Kevin found himself needing a job to help with college expenses.  He called those two firms to ask about opportunities in the investment industry.  E.F. Hutton offered the enterprising young man a position as a runner and operations associate.  That was the start of an incredible journey in the investment management industry.

For the next few years, Kevin made copies, ran errands, delivered mail and worked through various operational roles.  But most importantly, he built relationships with 25 investment advisors.  Kevin quickly realized investment management was the career he wanted, one where he had the capacity to help individuals and families transform their lives.

At E.F. Hutton, Kevin worked his way up to operations while at the same time earning his bachelor’s in business administration from the University of Memphis. After graduating, getting into technology and getting married in 1988, he started attending night classes to further his education before being accepted into Vanderbilt University to earn his MBA.

After earning his master’s, Kevin worked at large companies including Goldman Sachs, Merrill Lynch and Morgan Stanley, where he learned an immense amount about wealth management, private equity, operations and investing.

In 2017 Kevin started Kimery Wealth Management, a privately owned investment advisory practice specializing in family wealth advising and institutional consulting for individuals, family groups and nonprofits. “I wanted to keep the client’s interest first and wanted my practice to have a holistic approach,” he said.  Kevin is a student of behavioral finance, an emerging field that examines the psychological aspects of financial habits and behaviors.

Today his firm has 10 employees.  “If you don’t have a servant’s heart for your clients, vendors and team, then you’re not a good fit,” he said.  “Clients appreciate having a team working both for and with them who never give up no matter the challenges.”  Kevin’s motto, coined by Winston Churchill, reflects his dedication: “Never, never, never give up.”

That dedication has earned Kevin recognition such as Top Financial Advisor in 2009, Five Star Wealth Manager by Memphis Magazine seven years in a row and honors from The American Registry, Wealth & Finance International and Barron’s.

Kevin is active with Vanderbilt’s alumni board, the New Memphis Institute, Southern Reins and the executive board of the University of Memphis Fogelman College of Business. He has served on the boards of Memphis Botanic Garden, the Vanderbilt Graduate School of Business, the Exceptional Foundation of West Tennessee, Carnival Memphis and the Memphis Zoo.  He’s also a former president of Hope House.

Kevin met the former Sherri Barbee while in high school.  As young adults they ran into each other again at the Memphis in May barbecue festival in 1988. The two were married just seven months later, and they’ve been together ever since. They have four daughters – Elizabeth, Kathryn, Rachel and Margaret – a son-in-law, Andrew Marino, and two grandchildren, Macon and Will.

At the core of Kevin’s values is his family. They’ve shaped his leadership, grounded his work and deepened his love for Memphis. He and his wife have raised their children here, and that personal connection fuels his commitment to building a stronger, more vibrant community.  “Family isn’t just a source of support—it’s my inspiration for creating lasting impact,” he said.

Kevin unwinds by doing the things he loves most – spending quality time with his family, grilling out and relaxing by the pool, catching a good TV show with his wife or reading a great book. He loves to travel, explore great restaurants and enjoy a really good glass of wine.  He loves skiing in Telluride and tropical family vacations.  Kevin says he finds balance in simple, meaningful moments that keep him grounded.

Kevin has two mentors.  “Peter Veruki was a mentor to me from the day I walked through the doors at Vanderbilt University and remained a beloved friend for almost 30 years,” he said.  “Peter was a man of great wisdom, and his presence is greatly missed.  And Bob Pierce is the ‘there’s no way’ man. Bob found my first job for me, mentored me and reminded me ‘there’s no way’ when he thought I was bumping up against my potential.  I am grateful to him for keeping me hungry enough to reach for the impossible.”

What excites Kevin most about Memphis is the city’s “undeniable momentum,” he said.  “We are a community full of grit, heart and potential—and I’m inspired by the growing number of people who are beginning to see Memphis the way I always have: as a place of opportunity, resilience and extraordinary people. It’s not just about believing in Memphis—it’s about helping build the future it deserves.”

Kevin sees the Chairman’s Circle as vital to building that future.  “Our firm is honored to be a member of the Chairman’s Circle,” he said.  “This affiliation aligns with our dedication to fostering economic growth and development in Memphis.  The Chairman’s Circle helps us collaborate with other business leaders to drive initiatives that enhance the prosperity of our community. ​Our firm’s active participation reflects our unwavering commitment to making a positive impact in Memphis, supporting initiatives that promote education, healthcare and community development.”

Scott Ayers is Memphis through and through.  He’s a lifelong Memphian who lives in Arlington now.  He earned his BBA in accounting and MBA from the University of Memphis.  During high school and college, he worked all over the city – Putt-Putt Golf and Games, Stepherson’s Big Star, the Memphis Zoo and AutoZone Park.  “I’ve literally worked everywhere in Memphis,” he said.  And his favorite movie?  It’s the quintessential Memphis movie The Firm.  “I still will stop and watch The Firm whenever I come across it on TV,” he said.  “It’s so much fun seeing how Memphis looked 30+ years ago and seeing what’s changed and what’s stayed the same!”

After graduating from the University of Memphis, Scott earned his CPA license.  He started his career at Ernst & Young as an auditor where he served clients and Chairman’s Circle investors AutoZone, Mueller Industries and Dunavant Enterprises.  He also worked for Ernst & Young as the recruiting coordinator at the University of Memphis.  “My time at Ernst & Young afforded me the opportunity to work with a diverse group of businesses and individuals and helped further solidify my love and appreciation for all things Memphis,” he said.

Early in his career, Scott worked as the corporate accounting manager at MAA, another Chairman’s Circle investor.  There he gained experience in corporate accounting and SEC public company filings.  He then worked as director of profitability reporting and analysis at Evergreen Packaging, a multinational manufacturing company.  “These experiences gave me a diverse accounting and finance background that ultimately led me to Hunter Fan Company,” he said.  Scott started as director of accounting and was promoted to CFO after just four years.  He still holds that position today.

Hunter Fan Company was founded in Fulton, N.Y., in 1886.  The company moved its manufacturing plant to Memphis in 1946 to take advantage of industrial expansion in the South after World War II.  Today Memphis is home to Hunter Fan’s corporate headquarters, with 150 local employees and 250 worldwide.  Hunter Fan has a light manufacturing and assembly plant for its industrial fan division in Smyrna, Tenn., a distribution center in Byhalia, Miss., and sales offices in Mexico, Canada and Europe.

Hunter Fan has been recognized by The Commercial Appeal as a top workplace six years in a row.  The company has also been recognized as a top workplace by USA Today, and Newsweek named the company one of America’s most-loved workplaces and a global most-loved workplace.

“At Hunter Fan we recommitted to our long-term future with Memphis via our recently renovated headquarters, which includes more than $1 million in improved community space, conference rooms, expansion of our Hunter Museum and upgraded furniture,” Scott said.  “We have strengthened our ties to the Memphis community through our involvement with the Chairman’s Circle and by partnering with various community organizations including the University of Memphis, St. Jude and the Dorothy Day House.”

In addition to his involvement with the various organizations supported by Hunter, Scott teaches the high school boys Sunday School Connect class at Bartlett Baptist Church, where he recently took a group of students on a mission trip to the Dominican Republic.  He is also treasurer of the Arlington High School soccer booster club.

And what excites him most about Memphis today?  “All of its potential!” he said.  “Memphis is now on the national radar for growth potential, steady workforce, location and natural resources that will continue to elevate the city as we strive to meet our full potential.”

Scott knows about the importance of potential.  His dad saw it in him at an early age, and it led Scott to a wonderful career.  “My father gave me some of the best advice I’ve carried with me my entire adult life.  The first was very practical.  As a kid, I collected baseball cards.  I would keep up with their value and track the gains and losses.  After my dad saw a handwritten spreadsheet of all my data, he said, ‘You should be an accountant.’  As a fourth grader, I didn’t know exactly what that meant.  But I carried it with me and eventually took a few accounting and personal finance classes in high school and fell in love with the work!

“The other advice my dad gave me was just before I started working at Ernst & Young.  His advice was simple yet profound.  It was simply to ‘Be sure and show up.’  What he meant was to be present, in the moment, and look for ways to stand out,” Scott said.

Scott is married to his high school sweetheart, Tina Ayers, who works with kindergarteners at Arlington Elementary School.  “We have two beautiful daughters, Gabbey, who is 18 and a freshman at Mississippi College, and Briley, who is 15 and a freshman at Arlington High School.”

The family is planning a first this summer: a vacation to Florida with their 105-pound Labrador, Bo.  When they’re at home, the family enjoys sports.  “We are huge Memphis Tiger fans!” he said.  “We’ve held season tickets in football and basketball for as long as I can remember and enjoy the occasional road trip to watch our Tigers play.”

Preserver Partners is a diverse-owned and women-led Memphis investment management firm whose leadership reflects the clients the firm serves. And Memphis-born Dana Pointer, Preserver Partners’ CEO for the past two years, has been there from the beginning.

Dana joined Dr. Floyd Tyler as he founded the company in 2009. She served as chief operating officer and chief compliance officer before becoming CEO in January 2023 following the sudden and unexpected death of Dr. Tyler.

“My biggest career achievement was successfully stabilizing the firm by retaining a majority of our clients following the devastating loss of my partner, achieved with the dedicated support of my team,” she said.

Dana has spent three decades working in finance, compliance and management roles in the investment industry.

She joined First Tennessee Bank as a staff accountant immediately after graduating from the University of Tennessee Martin. She was soon promoted to work in accounting at what is now FHN Capital Markets, where she quickly became interested in and excited about investments and compliance. Within a year she became a licensed compliance officer. After 15 years with FHN, she decided to act on her entrepreneurial spirit and join Dr. Tyler as he started Preserver Partners.

Memphis-based Preserver Partners has a team of five managing institutional assets for clients nationwide. Preserver manages assets for public pension plans, endowments, foundations, corporations and family offices. Long-time local clients include MLGW Retirement Plan, Shelby County Retirement Plan, Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare and Christian Community Foundation.

“Our passion and commitment to giving back to the Memphis community led Preserver to start Preserver Partners Foundation in 2018,” Dana said. “The foundation supports organizations and programs doing great work in education, economic development and social justice.”

Dana’s personal passion aligns with the foundation’s – financial literacy and economic empowerment. That passion has led her to serve on boards including the Downtown Memphis Commission’s Center City Revenue Finance Corp., MATA and RISE Memphis.

She also champions Preserver’s investment in the Chairman’s Circle. “Aside from our city’s rich history and charm, I am excited about the endless possibilities of growth the Chamber helps create,” she said.

She’s also passionate about her family. “My husband, Levi, is a phenomenal partner,” she said. “We are each other’s biggest cheerleaders. He encourages me to pursue big goals and provides the grounding and balance that helps keep me sane! I’m incredibly proud of my two young adult children, Landon and Demi. Their intellect and thoughtfulness have shaped them into very confident individuals. It’s so inspiring to watch them grow and navigate life with such clarity and purpose.”

She encourages her family with the best advice she’s received herself: You don’t have to be twice a good, just be yourself!

Dana and her family enjoy vacationing “anywhere there’s an ocean,” and says she “LOVES listening to music. It allows me to unplug and clear my mind! My favorite genres are gospel and hip-hop/rap! LOL.” She’s also an avid reader. She’s currently reading Traction by Gino Wickman. “It’s been very helpful in taking Preserver to the next level,” she said. “My overarching professional goal is to achieve long-term success for both clients and the firm by building strong, trust-based relationships with clients and industry leaders, generating returns that exceed client expectations and growing the business sustainably.”