BRADY FLANIGANStaff Writer

The Lakewood Golf & Country Club is a hamlet of well-trimmed lawns pressing against Lake Tullahoma on the northeast side of town. It’s an area no more than five miles from the city’s main circuit cable, Highway 41A. However to an outsider, driving towards the country club is like paddling down the Congo River into the jungle. The further you travel, the more the paths twist and the thicker the canopy gets. This is where the Tullahoma Chamber of Commerce would be hosting its fourth annual 40 Under 40 banquet. On the evening of Aug. 22, the chamber came together to honor young entrepreneurs making a notable impact on the community. 

Before the crowd arrived Lakewood employees were buzzing around the front room–moving drinks tables and laying out finger foods. In the corner a bartender was pouring her fifth bottle of Jack Daniel’s into a pitcher of simple syrup and bitters. Chamber Executive Director Hope Nunley and Assistant Director Tisha Fritz wandered through the banquet hall straightening chairs and organizing plaques. The crowd began leaking in at 5 p.m. Chamber of Commerce President Nancy Fuller welcomed attendees at the door. The room had maybe 200 seats.

Within a half hour the room was mostly full. Fuller walked to the microphone, congratulated the recipients, thanked the members of the 40 Under 40 committee for all their effort, and mentioned all the help they get from the event’s sponsors. This year’s main sponsor was Coffee County Bank, but sponsors also included Traders Bank, Good News Magazine, Jack Daniel’s Distillery, 93.9 the Duck, Rooster 101.5, Whiskey Country 105.1, and Woodard’s Diamonds & Design. Jim Woodard of Woodard’s Diamonds led a prayer before passing the responsibility of presenting the awards to Col. Beverly Lee, USAF (ret.). 38 of the 40 recipients were present. Everyone from veterinarians to police officers, school teachers to photographers, were included in the lineup. She read a short bio of what they’ve done to earn this award. The photographer took pictures, and the next person came up. 

The dress code was certainly held to a high standard. Every suit and dress seemed to be just a bit nicer than the one next to it. It was a cool evening for August, but once the event doors closed all the body heat and excitement for young professionals was trapped inside the event space at Lakewood Golf & Country Club. The heat and humidity kept rising alongside the enthusiasm until the final plaque was awarded. The chamber thanked everyone in attendance, congratulated the recipients, and reopened the doors to the front room for a cocktail reception. 

It was time for the honorees to mingle amongst themselves and their awards. The crowd and the humidity spilled back into the front room, and now it was officially what some places call “after hours”. The air was a humid hurricane of different ambitions mingling together. It was a scene out of a high-stakes poker game, where everyone was holding a winning hand. As the night wound down, it wasn’t just about who took home a plaque; it was about the wild, sweaty jungle of networking, where the real winners were those who left with more than they came in with. The fourth annual 40 Under 40 wasn’t just another notch in the chamber’s belt—it was a testament to the raw, pulsing heart of Tullahoma’s business beat. 

This year’s honorees included: Adam Barnett, Alex Walsh, Amy Beasley Watson, Andrea Prince, Britney Wiseman, Brooke Arthur, Bryant Swann, Cassi Driver, Cristy Cox, Diedre Moon, Dr. Makenzie McCord, Dr. Megan Hardy, Erica Petersen, Hannah Palmertree, Hannah Dixon, Hannah Teters, Hope Nunley, Jacqueline Sullenger, Jason Chittum, Jenn Bradley, Jenny Bryson, Julie Rogers, Kacey Day, Kathryn Wiseman, Kellee West, Lacey Haynes, Laura Knight, Lindsey Powers Joyner, Lt. Camden Dammeyer, Matthew Parsley, Melissa Effingham, Molly Marcum, Noah Randall, Rachel Cunningham, Sarah Wells, Shannon Huffer PA-C, Tiffany Bolin, Tisha Fritz, Trevor Vestal, Zach Smith.