Jack Straton is the Chief Financial Officer for Stratas Foods LLC, a supplier of fats, oils, mayonnaise, dressings and sauces to foodservice, food ingredients and retail private label markets in North America. Stratas operates two facilities locally — a corporate headquarters on Goodlett Farms Parkway in Cordova and a research and quality center in Bartlett — plus 8 manufacturing sites spread throughout the U.S. Jack says innovative ideas germinate in the Bartlett facility, where researchers develop new products, and invite customers to test their oils, dressings, and sauces. [Read more…] about MEET THE CHAIRMAN’S CIRCLE: JACK STRATON

Eric Epperson is Senior Director and Chief of Staff, Global Communications and Corporate Marketing, at Medtronic PLC. Medtronic, the world’s largest medical device company, develops a range of devices from stents and pacemakers to brain implants and insulin pumps.

[Read more…] about MEET THE CHAIRMAN’S CIRCLE: ERIC EPPERSON

• Regions Bank executive David May to lead Chairman’s Circle at crucial time for region, with record levels of economic development and employment.
• May to lead business community response to heavy workforce demand, sets bold goal of introducing five new accelerated workforce training opportunities in 2022.
• Launched in 2013, the Greater Memphis Chamber Chairman’s Circle is made up of 145 C-suite executives dedicated to supporting the growth of the region.
  

[Read more…] about Regions’ David May named chairman of Chairman’s Circle

Briggette Green is the co-founder and CEO of TopCat Masonry Contractors, LLC, a licensed and award-winning general contractor specializing in brick, block, rock, glass block, pre-cast and stone masonry services established with her husband Robert in their Whitehaven home more than 25 years ago. With the motto “brick by brick, we build your tomorrow” TopCat has constructed numerous schools, hotels, business complexes and retail stores, and counts among its previous projects the renovation of Hotel Chisca and the construction of Beale Street Landing, Hattiloo Theatre, Douglass High School, and the LeMoyne-Owen College dorms. Current projects include the UTHSC apartments and the Georgette and Cato Johnson YMCA in Whitehaven. 

[Read more…] about MEET THE CHAIRMAN’S CIRCLE: BRIGGETTE GREEN

As president of Cargill Cotton, William Barksdale has his finger on the pulse of agriculture in the U.S. During his 29 years with Cargill, the largest privately held company in the US, William has worked in trading and risk management across the fiber, food and grain, and oilseed space. He’s held leadership roles in Minneapolis, Mexico City, and Shanghai. Cargill Cotton has offices in the UK and China, but Downtown Memphis is home to the company’s global cotton headquarters, where 75 employees focus on the core business of trading and shipping bulk cotton. They buy cotton from farmers and then ship it to textile manufacturers.

The Memphis native is a graduate of Memphis University School and the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville, where he obtained a BS in Agricultural Economics. He developed an early interest in agriculture while shadowing his father, a freelance agricultural photojournalist. William thought he’d become an agricultural lawyer until he was exposed to ag trading during a college internship with Sparks Commodities. When he left Memphis in 1986 to start his career as a feed ingredient merchant for Cargill Poultry Products in Albany, Georgia, he didn’t see himself returning. In 2014 he was working for Cargill in China when the opportunity arose to work in Memphis. He found the city had undergone, “an amazing and surprising major transformation” and says returning to the Bluff City was the best move he ever made with Cargill.

William is passionate about Cargill’s initiatives within Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and has been recognized as a leader in the space. He’s also passionate about Cargill’s commitment to moving Memphis forward and points out it is more than a cotton company. “Cargill has a large grain elevator in West Memphis where we buy grain and oils and then transport them. We have a corn milling facility on President’s Island. There’s a common thread with all those businesses of connecting the Mid-South’s agricultural community to global customers via supply chain and connecting the Mid-South to the world.”

He sits on several boards, including New Memphis Institute. “The work the group does, the notion of activating and developing talent in the Memphis area is integral to the growth of Memphis. One of the most exciting things is how people step up and advocate for the city and business in the city.”

William and his wife Stephanie have been married for 28 years. They have two sons, both MUS grads. Christopher is currently attending the University of Memphis. Alexander is a graduate of Texas Christian University. William gives major props to his family for weathering eight moves in 20 years while he pursued his dreams. William and Stephanie currently split their time between Downtown Memphis and Mountain Home, AR.

Katie Shotts is the CEO & Executive Vice President of the Memphis Area Association of REALTORS®. With 4,440 members, MAAR is one of the largest local REALTOR® associations in Tennessee. Founded in 1910, “The voice for local real estate” covers Shelby, Fayette, Tipton, Hardin, Hardeman and McNairy Counties. While MAAR’s focus is serving and representing real estate professionals and offering training which allows members to maintain or renew their licenses, they also advocate for consumers and work to ensure legislation doesn’t put up barriers to homeownership. [Read more…] about Meet the Chairman’s Circle: Katie Shotts

Todd Smith is the Vice President of Finance of MicroPort Orthopedics. The Arlington location is the company’s global headquarters for the orthopedic division of MicroPort Scientific. Locally, they employ about 500 people who work in their distribution center, administrative building, and in the manufacturing facility, where they make hip and knee implants sold around the world. They employ an additional 250 employees internationally in offices in Europe, Japan, Canada, and Costa Rica. [Read more…] about Meet the Chairman’s Circle: Todd Smith

The Greater Memphis Chamber Chairman’s Circle is a group of more than 145 C-suite business leaders working to spur economic growth, develop the workforce, and improve the business climate throughout the region. Learn more about the group and its task forces here and follow the Chairman’s Circle on LinkedIn. [Read more…] about Meet the Chairman’s Circle: Jason Gillum

Joe Lyons is the COO and CFO of Barr Brands International, a holding company that owns and operates W.M. Barr and Microban. [Read more…] about Meet the Chairman’s Circle: Joe Lyons of Barr Brands

Stacy McCall is the President and CEO of ServiceMaster by Stratos, a professional janitorial company headquartered in Memphis. Founded in 1979, Stratos services event venues, offices, construction sites, medical facilities and more in West Tennessee, North Mississippi, and Tuscaloosa, Alabama. [Read more…] about Meet the Chairman’s Circle: Stacy McCall

Chris Cosby is the Market CEO of Saint Francis Healthcare – Memphis & Bartlett. Saint Francis Hospital-Memphis is a 479-bed full-service hospital offering a wide array of medical services, including its Center for Surgical Weight Loss, Joint & Spine Center, Heart & Vascular Center, Chest Pain Emergency Center, and Surgical Services which includes the Center for Robotic Surgery, Diabetes Center, and Cancer Center. 

[Read more…] about MEET THE CHAIRMAN’S CIRCLE: Saint Francis’ Chris Cosby

As Site Director for three of Charles River Laboratories’ Memphis locations, Will Isom is responsible for CRL’s cell therapy manufacturing services. CRL currently employs more than 20,000 people in 100-plus facilities in more than 20 countries. Locally, the company employs more than 300. Interesting fact: CRL supported the development of 86% of the new drugs approved by the FDA in 2021. [Read more…] about Meet the Chairman’s Circle: Will Isom, Charles River Laboratories