Get to know Sara Jemison, Acquisitions and Development Project Management at Alco Management, Inc. and Greater Memphis Chamber 2020 Young Memphis Honoree.

What event or accomplishment has been the most impactful for your career so far?

I spent the first two years of my career providing residents of government assisted housing (public housing and section 8 voucher holders) avenues to advocate for their housing needs within the federal government. This allowed me to see the disconnect between policy makers and those impacted by federal housing policy. While my current work has shifted away from policy formation to program implementation, the understanding I gained about the impact and causes of the lack of quality affordable housing forms how and why I choose to work to develop affordable homes.

[Read more…] about Young Memphis Honoree: Sarah Jemison

Get to know Jeremy Calhoun, IT Project Manager, International Paper and Greater Memphis Chamber 2020 Young Memphis Honoree.

What event or accomplishment has been the most impactful for your career so far?

As a first-generation college student, the event or accomplishment that has been the most impactful for my career is landing my first internship with Memphis Light, Gas, and Water (MLGW). This opportunity was critical to my growth, confidence, and involvement in the City of Memphis. I joined MLGW in the summer of 2011 and interned in their Residential and Commercial Engineering division with my now mentor and big brother JT Malasri. JT introduced me to various programs that allowed me to become directly involved here in Memphis. Those activities included connecting me with New Memphis’ (Summer Experience) to introducing me to Mayor Mark Luttrell Young Professional’s Council, to serving on the Countywide Juvenile Consortium (CJJC). JT helped me realize that I could make an impact here in the City of Memphis. He also helped me convert my Summer Internship into a Co-op where I began to work full-time as a co-op for MLGW’s IT division. This was made possible by JT Malasri and City Council Chairwoman Patrice Robinson (during her time at MLGW). Over the next two years, I had the opportunity to work year-round for MLGW while learning from professionals in a comfortable yet challenging environment. This environment allowed me to hone my professional and personal skills. My work with MLGW eventually created an opportunity for me to travel to Indiana for an Internship opportunity with Cummins at their Global Headquarters in Columbus, Indiana, which ultimately helped me earn four Fortune 500 offers upon graduation. I eventually chose to return to Memphis and take a role at International Paper (IP), where I’ve now spent the last seven years working for one of the world’s best companies while also changing my family’s economic earning potential. I’m forever grateful for that opportunity with MLGW.

[Read more…] about Young Memphis Honoree: Jeremy Calhoun

Get to know Chessie (Biggam) Hayes, Director of Development at Meritan, and Greater Memphis Chamber 2020 Young Memphis Honoree.

What event or accomplishment has been the most impactful for your career so far?

The most impactful accomplishment of my career was achieving my Certified Fundraising Executive credential in May of 2019. I am one of the youngest fundraisers in the country to receive this prestigious credential. Recently, I presented at the Association of Fundraising Professionals St. Louis Regional Conference. My peer, Nick Kulik and I presented about “The Next Generation of Donors: Motivating Millennials to Give Now.” The most meaningful part of my job at Meritan has been working with donors and community members that want to push our mission forward and help us achieve our goals and vision. [Read more…] about Young Memphis Honoree: Chessie (Biggam) Hayes

Get to know Marcus Cox, Director of Community Relations for Playhouse on the Square and Greater Memphis Chamber 2020 Young Memphis Honoree.

What event or accomplishment has been the most impactful for your career so far?

I am the most excited now for my role at Playhouse on the Square, connecting our professional and community organizations to our mission of telling the stories that represent the heart and soul of our community. In that role, representation matters. I have recently begun connecting our theatre with theatre programs at Historically Black Colleges and Universities as well and colleges with majority Latinx populations. It is our goal to create pipelines with young professional artists with a worldview that may be different from our own. As a theater charged with telling the story of our community, I want that story to be told in a way that is organic and real.

[Read more…] about Young Memphis Honoree: Marcus Cox

Get to know Kelsey Duckett, PPLC as an Associate Attorney in Harris Shelton Hanover Walsh and Greater Memphis Chamber 2020 Young Memphis Honoree.

What event or accomplishment has been the most impactful for your career so far?

Working with Baptist Hospital to secure a multi-million-dollar bond transaction and also working with a group of investors to help erect Union Row Memphis has been the most impactful for my career so far.

[Read more…] about Young Memphis Honoree: Kelsey Duckett

Get to know Sebastiaan de Kok, Vice President of HealthLink International Inc, US Operations and Greater Memphis Chamber 2020 Young Memphis Honoree.

What event or accomplishment has been the most impactful for your career so far?

In 2013 I seized the opportunity to move to the United States and setup a US branch of our then parent company, HealthLink Europe. What started out as a small 2,400 square foot warehouse grew to our current operation with more than 75 team members, in a 108,500 square foot distribution center that fulfills over 150,000 critical medical device shipments each month.

[Read more…] about Young Memphis Honoree: Sebastiaan de Kok

Get to know Derravia Freeman Rich, Digital Agronomy Work Based Learning Coordinator for Tennessee College of Applied Technology in Covington and Greater Memphis Chamber 2020 Young Memphis Honoree.

What event or accomplishment has been the most impactful for your career so far?

Living outside of Memphis for over a decade has made a huge impact on my career pivot. I lived in Nashville for about 12 years and when I moved back home to Memphis in 2015, I wanted to be apart of a collective force whose vision was to improve the living conditions of residents , reimagine Memphis as a mecca for innovators and entrepreneurs, and to create better opportunities to promote economic and social growth. Moving back home allowed me to see my city in a different perspective. That new perspective has influenced me to be active in creating environments and opportunities for local Memphians.

[Read more…] about Young Memphis Honoree: Derravia Freeman Rich

Get to know Casey Flannery, Senior Associate with Cushman & Wakefield | Commercial Advisors and Greater Memphis Chamber 2020 Young Memphis Honoree.

What event or accomplishment has been the most impactful for your career so far?

A former colleague and I created an online platform for commercial real estate professionals to network and share best practices and industry trends. It has really taken off since we started it in 2018 and has given access us access to global publications and professionals in various markets. It’s called #CREchat and is a live Twitter chat (Q&A) that takes place once a month. It has helped me in creating a personal brand for myself and recognition in Memphis and across the globe. Additionally, I assisted in relocating The Barefoot Bride’s store from East Memphis to Downtown Memphis (South Main area). Their space is amazing, unique, and utilizes the historic building and aesthetics at The Emerge Building (516 Tennessee Street).

[Read more…] about Young Memphis Honoree: Casey Flannery

Get to know Jonathan Aur., Commercial Sales & Leasing at Boyle Investment Company and Greater Memphis Chamber 2020 Young Memphis Honoree.

What event or accomplishment has been the most impactful for your career so far?

It definitely has to be the redevelopment of Williamsburg Village, formerly a tired shopping center at Poplar and Mendenhall. Although we are still under construction, we are transforming that area into a beautiful district that Memphians can be proud of, with some of the neatest and most unique tenants in the city.

[Read more…] about Young Memphis Honoree: Jonathan Aur