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PUBLISHER | OWNER ASHLEY MYNATT EXECUTIVE EDITOR KEELY QUINLAN CLIENT RELATIONS KAYLA GELLINGER | SALES@16MEDIAMAGS.COM PHOTOGRAPHERS + CONTRIBUTING WRITERS TONY CENTONZE JOSHUA PELTZ JEFF DANAULT GRAPHIC DESIGN KAYLA GELLINGER AUTUMN MACZKO ASHLEIGH WHITING DISTRIBUTION CC WHEELER
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FROM THE EDITOR According to the wall of humidity that greets me every time I step outside, we’ve finally made it to summer, folks. I do truly love this season — the fullness of the trees, the backyard get-togethers, and the return of Clarksville’s outdoor events like Jazz on the Lawn and Downtown @ Sundown. However, I like about two weeks of summer, and then I’m ready for fall. And on top of that, I’m about as Irish as they come. I was built for brisk, overcast weather and eating potatoes. I am not meant to tolerate this oppressive heat, and the hoodies that have now made their way to the back of my closet miss me (and I miss them, too). But honestly, all of my complaints about summer are immediately rectified when I have a cold beer in hand. Anyways, as you might have noticed from the cover, this issue is centered around the 70th anniversary of Appleton Harley-Davidson. But the underlying theme for this issue is celebrating women in business. Fortitude and resilience — these are two words that come to mind when I think of all the brilliant women we had the honor of talking to this month, and no two women embody those words more than Tia Suiter and Mary Rose of Appleton Harley-Davidson, who grace our cover this month along with several of their family members that have played an integral role in keeping the dealership revving and running for the last 70 years. The stories that comprise the decades-long history of their dealership embody the resiliency underpinning the theme of this issue. In addition to the women of Appleton Harley-Davidson, this issue also features Q&As with other really amazing women in Clarksville who own their businesses. All of them, in their own ways, have made such a positive impact on the community — be it helping their clients in a time of need, such as Roberta Morton of Mane Control Hair Care, LLC or Jasmine Miller of The Wax House, who ensure their clients look and feel their absolute best. Some women we spoke to own businesses that make the world go round — like Alana Ward, the owner of Baggett Heating & Cooling, whose business is there when your HVAC decides a heat wave is the perfect time to start malfunctioning, or Dr. Barbara Aquino, whose pediatric practice ensures kids all over town receive the very best care. And of course, it was imperative for us to celebrate those women in the process of making their unique visions a reality, like Linda Blackmoor of Caledonia Forest and Cat Maynard of Shelby’s Trio.
With this issue being so full of divine feminine energy, working on this book for the past several weeks has pushed me to think about the many women who’ve influenced my life positively. I could name so many of them were invaluable in building up my self-esteem or encouraging my aspirations, but my mother is the first who comes to mind. She’s the embodiment of fortitude — she was dealt the worst that a military spouse could imagine when my father was killed overseas, and with the utmost grace, she took that situation and made the absolute best of it for me and my two sisters. She also continues to teach me so many lessons about self-sufficiency, and how to care for yourself while also caring for others. In summary, we really hope this issue is received with the same amount of love we put into it. And, maybe even more so, we hope it encourages you to take stock of the influential women in your life and fills you with gratitude for their impact.
Keely Quinlan
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CELEBRATING APPLETON HARLEY-DAVIDSON’S 70TH ANNIVERSARY • 9
CONTENTS
EVENTS 12 MONTGOMERY COUNTY REPUBLICAN PARTY’S LINCOLN REAGAN DAY DINNER
16 EMPOWERED BY EDUCATION SAVED BY GRACE GALA
18 6TH ANNUAL LUPUS RIDE AT APPLETON
12
HARLEY-DAVIDSON
26 QUEEN CITY ROAD RACE 28 CMCSS SKILLS COMPETITION
18
31 JAMES BABGY CAMPAIGN KICK-OFF EVENT 32 EASTER AT SANGO PHARMACY 37 CLARKSVILLE-MOCO STEPPING INTO THE FUTURE
26
40 BBBS BOWL FOR KIDS’ SAKE BANKERS CHALLENGE 41 BBBS BOWL FOR KIDS’ SAKE COMMUNITY BOWL 44 BBBS NO ZEST FOR THE WICKED TAPPING PARTY 46 BUSINESS AFTER HOURS AT O’CONNORS
32
51 UKRAINE FLAG RAISING AT AVENUE OF THE FLAGS 52 LEADERSHIP CLARKSVILLE ALUMNI SOCIAL
40
55 RASHIDAH LEVERETT RE-ELECTION CAMPAIGN KICK-OFF
56 BELLA’S CLOSET AT THE FORT CAMPBELL JOB FAIR 58 CLARKSVILLE NETWORKING GROUP OPEN HOUSE 61 FERGUSON RIBBON CUTTING CEREMONY 62 KINSLEY LYNCH FOUNDATION CLARKSVILLE CHILD SAFETY FAIR
79 HOG ROAST HOOTENANNY
52
80 BOURBON AND BOXING FIGHT SERIES 83 F&M BANK ARENA HARD HAT TOUR 84 LIVE ON WILMA: AN INTIMATE CONCERT SERIES
61
86 APSU MILITARY AND VETERAN GRADUATE RECOGNITION CEREMONY
88 CLARKSVILLE CHRISTIAN SCHOOL GOLF
88
TOURNAMENT
90 FATHER AND DAUGHTER DATE NIGHT 92 CLARKSVILLE SCAVENGER HUNT 2022
90
92
FEATURES 14 FOUR TIPS FOR WOMEN WANTING TO START A BUSINESS 19 PLATINUM & LEATHER: CELEBRATING THE 70TH ANNIVERSARY OF APPLETON HARLEY-DAVIDSON 34 THE PERFECT WEEKEND GETAWAY WITH THE GIRLS 38 MEET THE CLARKSVILLE POLICE DEPARTMENT CRIME SCENE TEAM 42 SALUTE TO SERVICE: MONTGOMERY COUNTRY VETERANS TREATMENT COURT 48 GIVE | CARE | SHARE | YAIPAK OUTREACH 64 WOMEN IN BUSINESS KAYLA GUNTER | CENTERY 21 PLATINUM PROPERTIES DR. BARBARA AQUINO | AQUINO PEDIATRICS JASMINE MILLER | THE WAX HOUSE CATHI MAYNARD | SHELBY’S TRIO LINDA BLACKMOOR | CALEDONIA FOREST ROBERTA MORTON | MANE CONTROL HAIR CARE ALANA WARD | BAGGETT HEATING & COOLING
ON THE COVER MARY ROSE, TREY KEESE, GRACEY APPLETON, GLEN APPLETON, STEVE APPLETON & TIA SUITER OF APPLETON HARLEY-DAVIDSON PHOTOGRAPHY BY JOSHUA PELTZ PHOTOGRAPHY & DESIGN
CELEBRATING APPLETON HARLEY-DAVIDSON’S 70TH ANNIVERSARY • 11
Alec Bissell & Neil Stauffer
Una & Joe Smith
Colton Collett & Madeline Kerr
Daniel Bryant & Judge Adrienne Fry
Brenda Graham & Ashley Johnson
Cindy Greene & Jeff Burkhart
Story & Photography by Tony Centonze Nearly 400 people came out for this year’s Montgomery County Republican Party Lincoln Reagan Day Dinner, an annual event that features high-profile guest speakers and a chance for local candidates to meet and greet their supporters. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tennessee) and Congressman Mark Green (R-Clarksville) were not in attendance, but shared video statements for their supporters. This year’s keynote speaker was Tennessee Governor Bill Lee.
Erinne Hester & Jimmy Brown
Gail & Rick Longton
Gianni Haro & Sara Golden
Jay & Vicki Reedy
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Haley & Drew Lonergan
Jenny & Nathan Duessler
Billy Atkins & Michael Patterson
Crystal Dozier, Caroline & Tommy Vallejos
Reid & McClure Poland, Nelson Boehms
Kevin & Rhonda Kennedy
Emily Anderson, Cindy Greene & Jeff Burkhart
Joni Hargrove & Pat Allen
Misty Nash, Lee Caira & Jemina Clinard
Judge Robert & Kimberly Bateman
Liz & John Holt
Wendy Davis, Ellen Allen & Jason Knight
Todd Harvey & Vanessa Hollis
CELEBRATING APPLETON HARLEY-DAVIDSON’S 70TH ANNIVERSARY • 13
four
tips for women wanting to start a business BY LORNETH PETERS
Lorneth Peters has spent years assisting business owners in Montgomery County. Many of the businesses she has assisted over the years were women-owned, and she’s got expertise that many could benefit from in making the leap to entrepreneurship. The challenges faced by womenowned businesses are unique, but can be overcome with support and strategic planning. Here are four essential things Peters thinks women who are interested in starting their own business should know in order to become a successful entrepreneur.
1. Financing a Business “The number one question I’ve received over the years has to do with financing a business. When thinking about the financing needs for a business, entrepreneurs should first finalize the reason for the funds. This requires writing down all your startup costs, and figuring out your wants and needs to get the business started. Then, I usually provide three options for funding: bootstrapping, crowdfunding and small business loans. Bootstrapping is leveraging your own financial resources to support your business, which may include using some of your savings. 14 • VIP CLARKSVILLE MAGAZINE
Crowdfunding is also a great option for those who have friends and family interested in supporting the business idea. Finally, seeking a small business loan is also an option for some. Speak with your financial institution to find out more about that process.”
2. Embrace Who You Are “In my experience, I see so many women entrepreneurs comparing themselves to other women entrepreneurs. I always share with female entrepreneurs what my mother taught me growing up. When I started comparing myself to others, she stated, ‘You don’t know what they are going through and what they have to do behind closed doors to get to where they are in life.’ Always remember your journey is unique to you. If entrepreneurs are all honest, they usually fail forward by learning from mistakes. Spend less energy focusing on what others are doing and more time focusing on how you can make a difference in the world as a business owner. By being authentic, you can attract more people to your business.”
“Many female entrepreneurs I speak with feel alone and do not know who to trust. Mentorship is a great asset that should be considered. Mentorship provides you with support from someone who has walked in your shoes, or someone who has a different perspective that can help you when making vital decisions. Mentors can be found at your local churches, organizations you are connected to, or on social media. It may take some time to find a mentor that fits your personality and understands your needs, but doesn’t give up. Listening to podcasts, reading books, and connecting with others on LinkedIn are all things that can be helpful as you continue to research mentors and mentorship programs.”
4. Know Your Ideal Customer “An ideal customer will get their needs met by the products and services you offer. Many female entrepreneurs I speak with always say they want to sell to everybody. Remember, selling to everybody is selling to nobody. Here are some suggestions as you explore ways to find your ideal customer. First, write down three to five things you think you are offering to a potential customer. How are you making their lives happier, easier, and healthier? Who do you think will value your products and services more than others? What’s their age demographic? What hobbies do they enjoy? The next step is to test your perceptions of your ideal clients. Pay close attention to how they interact with you, and how interested they are in your products and services. Knowing your ideal customer will be ever-changing due to the habits of consumers, so pay close attention to your customers’ needs. By ensuring that your products and services are meeting their needs, your business will continue to flourish.”
lorneth peters
3. Seek Mentorship
CELEBRATING APPLETON HARLEY-DAVIDSON’S 70TH ANNIVERSARY • 15
Story & Photography by Tony Centonze Power and Grace Preparatory Academy recently held its third annual Educational Excellence Benefit Gala at the Wilma Rudolph Event Center. This year’s gala was entitled Empowered by Education: Saved by Grace. More than 200 students, their family members, educators, and supporters were in attendance to enjoy the program that featured a performance by the school’s choir, and an unveiling of plans to build a new campus.
Camille & Reverend Audrey Coppins
Derrick, Emmirra & Robin Oliver
Clarence & Lea Smith
Sanmentus & Shavon Wanki
Teresa Pressley & Niambi McLaurin
Ezell, Ezell III & Erica Hudson
To view more photos scan here
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Judge Katy Olita & Jessica Whittington
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CELEBRATING APPLETON HARLEY-DAVIDSON’S 70TH ANNIVERSARY • 17
Michael Crowell & Dwight Adcock
Jeff Guisinger & Greg Moore
6th Annual Lupus Ride AT APPLETON HARLEY-DAVIDSON Story & Photography by Tony Centonze Allen & Kathy Johnson
Shane Nichols recently hosted the 6th Annual Lupus Ride, which began and ended at Sidelines Grill in Ashland City.
Chuck McCarver
“We’ve done this since 2016,” Nichols said. “We’re a non-profit, and we donate all the proceeds to the Lupus Foundation. Donna and I both have Lupus, we grew up with it, so this is about raising awareness and raising money to help people out. Hopefully, we’ll find a cure one day. Donna Williams says there are more than a million people with Lupus. It’s more common than you think. Lupus took my mom and my sister in 2004 and 2008. I’m doing great, now. The Lupus Foundation researchers have come up with some medicines that have helped me.” Between fifty and sixty riders show up every year to lend their support. At the conclusion of this year’s ride, everyone enjoyed music by Austin Williams, and a live auction at Sidelines Grill in Ashland City, TN. Donna & Todd Williams
Noel Henson & Caleb Egli
Eric Foreman & Kat Rodgers
Todd Williams & Russell Pardue
Jason Hamilton & Mike Palmer
Gloria Craig
Platinum and Leather C E L E B R A T I N G A P P L E T O N H A R L E Y - D AV I D S O N ’ S 7 0 t h A N N I V E R S A RY W R I T T E N B Y K E E LY Q U I N L A N When you hear the Appleton name in Clarksville, it’s difficult to not immediately think of a rip-roaring Harley-Davidson motorcycle. The family has called Clarksville home for over a century, and now onto its fourth and fifth generations, the Appletons continue to chart a lasting legacy through the Appleton Harley-Davidson dealership — the city’s premier location to buy a piece of the motorcycle brand that’s become synonymous for the spirit of America. And while the leather jackets, revving engines, and gut-churning speeds associated with motorcycle culture might epitomize masculinity and the Appleton men who started the dealership in the 1950s — the Appleton women who run it today have built a more inclusive space for all to enjoy the ride.
Under the stewardship of Danny and Tia Suiter, the granddaughter of late Buddy Appleton, and Mary Rose, the widow of founder Glen Appleton, the dealership is celebrating its 70th anniversary this year. It has become one of the brand’s most renowned dealerships in the world, and the choice shop for veterans, country music superstars, and local motorcyclists alike. Their impact on the motorcycle industry in Tennessee can be measured by the famous faces who’ve picked the dealership for their own bike purchases, such as Reba McEntire, Florida Georgia Line, and Wynonna Judd. But more importantly, their impact on the community of Clarksville-Montgomery County can be seen time and time again through their spirit for charity. In between hosting several
CELEBRATING APPLETON HARLEY-DAVIDSON’S 70TH ANNIVERSARY • 19
fundraising rides a year, continually supporting the military and their families, and championing community involvement, they’re always looking for ways to continue the dealership’s legacy for service. “Harley has been in production since 1903. It has stood the test of time compared to the many of other brands that have come and gone throughout the years,” Suiter told VIP. But the same is true of the dealership, which has also continued to stand firm in the face of everchanging industry trends, time, and also loss. PART ONE The Appleton Harley-Davidson dealership that now stands on the US 41A Bypass in Clarksville traces its beginnings to a small and humble garage shop on Old Ashland City Road. The four Appleton brothers — Buddy, Glen, Gracey, and Bobby — were raised by a single mother, Alma Appleton, and grew up with a tight-knit family. Everyone lived on the same road, and eventually returned to that same area to build their own homes as adults. Buddy, Glen and Gracey all served in the Navy: Gracey served on the U.S.S. Iowa, Glen served on the U.S.S. Lexington, and Buddy served on the U.S.S. Giraffe. “It gave them an opportunity to see the world as young boys that were raised without a father. My grandfather Buddy was the first to ever ride a motorcycle home. He needed means for transportation and somebody lended it to him,” Suiter said. That was the first time any of the three brothers had laid eyes on a motorcycle, and Suiter said they had a passion for it naturally. So, Glen opened a motorcycle shop housed in a garage on his property on Old Ashland City Road in 1952. With the shop, Glen and Buddy led the local foray into selling bikes, simultaneously building Clarksville’s motorcycle culture. Glen also began racing motorcycles at unsanctioned street races, sponsoring hill climbs along the Cumberland River bed, and even competing in the infamous Barstow to Vegas ride. This knack for racing would be embedded in the family too. Buddy’s son Steve Appleton started racing at the age of 14 in Elkton, Kentucky. In 1976, at the age of 19, Steve won the AMA National Amateur Motorcross Championship in Carlsbad, California. In the summer of 2021, at the age of 63, he came out of retirement and raced at the Loretta Lynn’s Tennessee Motorcycle Music Revival and brought home a first place trophy. Today, he works at Appleton Harley-Davidson and is an integral part of the service department. But back in the 50s, the shop sold just two different motorcycle brands and their parts: BSA and Triumph. Glen would go on to acquire HarleyDavidson in the early 60s. After their time in the military, the boys would also serve in local law enforcement and government. Glen served as magistrate of 20th district in Montgomery County for several years while also running the shop, and both Buddy and Gracey served on the police department. To make a long story short, service lives in the Appleton name. But this wouldn’t just be true for their community or country, they were also incredibly dedicated in their home life.
“I think there is a beauty in people who might be from a small town that have big morals, and there’s something to be said for that.” “The boys rotated every week in making sure their wives took dinner to their mother for one full week. Their wives would switch on whose week it was, and that same week, that boy would pick their mother up and take her to church in the car, open the car door for her, and walk her back to the house,” Suiter said. “I think there is a beauty in people who might be from a small town that have big morals, and there’s something to be said for that.” 20 • VIP CLARKSVILLE MAGAZINE
Glen would eventually move his shop to 10th street in Clarksville, and then in 1967, moved it to Riverside Drive. It was called Glen’s Cycle Shop, and was located where the Marathon gas station currently sits now. All of the brothers worked there with Glen at various times. Throughout his years of business, he sold Triumph, Honda, and Harley-Davidson. Buddy started out on Madison Street with his own shop, moved it to College Street, and then later on to Kraft Street. Buddy alongside his son Bret sold Husqvarna, Yamaha, and John Deere at the shop on Kraft Street. But because of the industry’s constant fluctuation, the shop still wasn’t enough to guarantee financial security. “My grandad kept his job at Fort Campbell throughout the early years because he was scared the business wouldn’t make it,” Suiter said. Suiter refers to this era of the shop and the Harley-Davidson brand as “the scrapper days,” meaning the Harley-Davidson name was not as revered as it is now. The brand was also owned then by the American Machinery Foundation. “That company was not in the motorcycle business, they’re American machinery. They made pretzel machines and bowling balls. They made many things and it took a great number of components to manufacture a motorcycle. This caused AMF to not have any interest in Harley-Davidson because it took so long for them to make their money back,” Suiter said. “A lot of people will talk about those days as ‘the dark days,’” Suiter continued. “I don’t like when people talk badly about the AMF days because if Harley-Davidson wouldn’t have bought the brand back, it wouldn’t be the American icon it is today because the company would have went under. AMF needs to be recognized for keeping it going.” The AMF days are an important part of Harley-Davidson’s history and path to becoming the king of the motorcycle industry. Harley-Davidson bought back ownership of the American icon in 1981 from AMF, but unfortunately, Glen would not go on to see the brand become the giant that it is today. He died that same year from leukemia, leaving behind his wife Mary Rose, 12 children, and nothing short of a giant hole in the hearts of his family and those that knew him best. Glen Appleton Jr. has incredibly fond memories of his father, and still works at the dealership today as the sales manager. “I remember spending my summers as a kid going to the motorcycle shop with my father, and listening to conversations and witnessing firsthand all the new motorcycles that would come in including new models, new colors. I would help set them up out of the crates, acid filling the batteries, wash them, and keep them clean on the showroom floor,” he said. PART TWO After Buddy acquired Harley-Davidson from his brother’s estate, he slowly would drop his other brands and focus solely on Harley-Davidson, operating his business out of the old tractor building on Kraft Street. It was a risk, Suiter said. “At that time Harley- Davidson was not something
that people sought after. Honda was a leading brand,” Suiter said, adding the way it worked out epitomized the American dream because in 1984, the spotlight shifted to Harley-Davidson with the debut of a new motor. “That was a huge turning point, because they came out with what they call EVO — or Evolution Motor — and shortly after that, the whole country music industry started riding Harley-Davidson,” she continued.
department, PNA (parts and accessories department), and the sales department. Suiter reiterated that this massive enterprise would have never been possible without Mary Rose.
The publicity from these celebrity endorsements drove the reputation of Harley-Davidson through the roof. In 1999 when Harley-Davidson’s sales were beginning to take off, a F3 tornado ripped through downtown Clarksville, causing massive destruction and taking Buddy’s shop on Kraft Street right with it. The shop was reduced to rubble, so he briefly reopened his business on the US 41-A Bypass, just down the road from where the dealership now currently sits. Then in March of 2000, the shiny, new Appleton Harley-Davidson dealership opened its doors where it has been located ever since.
“She’s probably one of the most instrumental things, and has kept the dealership going,” Suiter said. When Glen died in ’81, Mary and Buddy helped with the estate and the selling of his properties, including apartment buildings, the strip mall, and other real estate. Mary was Glen and Buddy’s righthand, and without her, Appleton would have never transformed into the full-service dealership that it is today. She has been working in the motorcycle industry since she was a teenager, and still works there today.
“I remember coming in here one day on my lunch break from the bank, and my granddad was sitting on a bike, and I was like ‘What is this place?’ And he was like ‘They’re going to call it a dealership, and not call it a shop no more. We’ve got to choose our words,’ and I was just like why are there all these clothing racks in here?” Suiter said, remembering her shock at the shiny new dealership. “It was just so different from the plank, wood floors and the fireplace, but there was no one more deserving than my hardworking grandfather,” Suiter said.
“They’re going to call it a dealership”
Despite the dealership’s expansion and commercialization, Suiter said Buddy continued to make sure every customer and bike enthusiast was welcomed in like an old friend. “He could talk to just about anyone and everyone no matter where they came from or what their story was about.” Unfortunately, the Appleton family and dealership would once again lose one of its owners. Buddy got cancer and passed away in 2004. After his passing, Bret — Suiter’s uncle — became the sole owner with his father no longer beside him. Eventually, Suiter and her husband Danny took over the business in 2011. “Yeah, I thought my job at the bank was hard,” Suiter said with a laugh. “I was going into mortgage lending from being an internal audit, and I finally got the office of my dreams on the second floor with two corner windows. I thought I’d hit the lotto with the office,” she continued. Going from banking to owning a dealership was a major transition. Suiter said that based on her knowledge of her family’s business growing up and initial assumptions about what it would be like to work in a dealership would be proved wrong. “I don’t know what I thought. I think I’d left it mentally where it had been at when I was a little girl — the simplicity of it like a mom and pop store before we got so commercialized,” Suiter said. Now, the dealership is comprised of six departments: finance, the dealership’s Riding Academy, a service department, motor clothes
“You’re not just opening up a dealership, the doors are composed of many entities with sales, finance, service, parts and accessories, along with federal, state, and local regulations. The biggest asset to this dealership is our Riding Academy course with full licensing power issued by the state of Tennessee. This encompasses Buddy’s dream to be able to be licensed from a motorcycle dealership, and we ensured that it happened,” Suiter continued. Mary handles just about everything on the backend of the dealership as the operations manager: the finances, the insurance companies, and ensuring compliance with regulations. She said that does not have a college education, but that’s never stood in her way. She learned on the job, and from Buddy and Glen. “Buddy and Glen knew you had to put money back into your business to prepare it for the future. They did it because they loved the American icon,” Mary told VIP. Mary is not sure what the next 70 years might hold for the dealership, but she is confident that the next generation will carry it into the future. A long time tradition of the Moseley family is being carried on by Carlie Moseley, who represents a third generation legacy: her grandfather, Carl, worked alongside Glen and Mary at Glen’s Cycle Shop along with his wife Ann Moseley who began working at the dealership as a kid. Ann went on to become the principal of Clarksville High School and then returned to the dealership work with the Appleton family until she officially retired at 72. “My Mimi used to joke that this place was the circle of life, after she retired she ended up at the same place she had started. We have shared numerous lunches and laughs together throughout the walls of this dealership.,” Carlie said. Her father, Carlton, worked also worked at the dealership with Bret, Tia, and Danny. Carlie’s grandfather passed away in 2017, and she is currently training to take over for Mary as operations manager of the dealership. “Appleton’s has filled my family with memories for three generations and working there feels like home to me,” Carlie told VIP. “My grandfather was very instrumental when the shop was owned by Buddy and Glen. I feel close to him every day I am at the shop even though he is no longer here. I have worn many hats throughout my employment at Appleton’s and will continue to add to the list as Appleton’s grows and I develop in marketing, finance, and eventually becoming operations manager. These two families are deeply rooted and we hope we honor our forefather’s legacy. We have a streak in us just like they did and the apple didn’t fall far from the tree. The Appleton legacy lives on
CELEBRATING APPLETON HARLEY-DAVIDSON’S 70TH ANNIVERSARY • 21
throughout my life and the lives of all the great people who walk through the doors everyday.” Suiter said that she couldn’t think of anyone more perfect to help carry on the legacy, and that Carlie’s close connection with the Appleton family makes it all the more special. “It’s kind of ironic that you have this history that trends in a big town that’s really small. That is no longer common these days,” Suiter continued. Suiter agreed “The Appleton legacy lives that it’s not just her family or family friends close to the on throughout my life and the dealership that made it into the lives of all the great the success that it is — it’s the who’ve shown it so people who walk through people much love over the years. “I the doors everyday.” feel strongly that the dealership should never be looked at for the name on the building, but instead seen as a representation for the people that made it what it is today. God bless the men and women that serve our country, and it is a privilege to serve them. They fight for our freedom so that we can continue to embody the true meaning of Harley-Davidson — ride free.”
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CELEBRATING APPLETON HARLEY-DAVIDSON’S 70TH ANNIVERSARY • 23
Tribute to Appleton Harley-Davidson’s impact on Clarksville “
I am a retired CW4 and was a Maintenance Special Operation’s Officer for 26 years. I was awarded many things throughout my time serving my country including the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star Medal with 6 Oak Leak Cluster, Army Accommodation Medal with 8 Oak Leaf Cluster, Army Achievement Medal with 6 Oak Leaf Cluster. I have a total of seven deployments between Afghanistan, Iraq, Kosovo, and Bosnia. Appleton’s has always made me feel at home and I appreciate everything they do for the military. They have sold me my last six bikes including my 2018 CVO RoadGlide that I still currently ride and will be using whenever my daughter Persia and I do the all 48 state ride across the US on June 14 of this year.” - Eric McCoy, veteran and customer.
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Appleton’s has been a family business in Clarksville for years. It serves so many, over a great distance. I like it being owned by ‘local’ people of our community. It means you’re going to get personal service whether you’re 100 miles away or just down the road.” - Tim Emerson, customer.
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“I worked at Appleton’s Honda on Riverside Drive in 1974 and 1975. Got to work with some good people: Glen Appleton, Gracey Appleton, Norris Heggie, and Billy Joe Black just to name a few. Got to Motocross back then with some great guys like Bret and Steve Appleton, Mitchell Wallace, Mike McKenzie, Nathan Kennedy I’m sure I’m forgetting a few more. Good luck to Tia and Mary and the crew at Appleton Harley-Davidson for carrying on the family tradition.” - Victor Nicholson, former employee and family friend.
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What Appleton’s means to me — it really feels like a home away from home. It has a great family feel, almost like being part of the family. To me, when you buy a bike you’re not just buying a bike; you’re buying a little piece of history. I also appreciate the great support that the dealership gives to the Harley Owners Group (HOG). I couldn’t ask for a better experience in my life right now then being part of Appleton’s.” - Chip Turner, customer and president of the Harley Owner’s Group.
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I wanted my own Harley-Davidson motorcycle for as long as I can remember. It took me 15 years to convince my husband. In 2007, with the help of the team at Appleton HarleyDavidson, I purchased a 2007 Harley-Davidson Softail Night Train. At the time, I didn’t notice many females riding their own motorcycles. Fast forward to the last five years or so and I have seen many females riding their own bikes in Clarksville-Montgomery County. In Clarksville, Appleton’s Harley-Davidson is the center of many patriotic and community riding events. As a Ride Captain for the Patriot Guard, I have personally experienced the kindness and generosity of Appleton Harley-Davidson. They never turn away the opportunity to host or participate in an event or fundraiser for a member of the military or a veteran. The involvement comes from their deep respect for members of the military. It is genuine respect. We are very lucky to have Appleton Harley-Davidson and its team in our community!” - Deanna McLaughlin, customer.
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“ Appleton Harley-Davidson is truly a legacy dealership that has always cared for and contributed to our community. I met Buddy and Bret Appleton in 1980 as a teenager. I began working at the dealership a short time later. That experience taught me a trade, and most importantly, how to be a responsible young man. Now, more than 40 years later, I still treasure the memories of the friends I made and the family I became a part of, the Appleton family. Relationships have always mattered at Appleton HarleyDavidson, and I thank you for enriching my life that little bit more.” - Chris Bolin, former employee and family friend.
It was the greatest time of my life. I was a young man when I started there in 1966, I worked there 14 years, and I was 33 when I left. I love the Appleton family too, it was all about the people. They’re great people.” - Norris Heggie, former employee.
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I started working at Appleton’s in 1966 and worked there for about 6 years. It was a great place to work and the Appleton’s have always treated me as family. The Appleton’s have always given back to the community and continue to do so today.” - Horace Heggie, former employee.
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I grew up in the Clarksville area on a 100 acre farm and I was born a motorcycle fanatic. At age six, my dad bought us a Yamaha 125 from Buddy Appleton when he had the dealership on Kraft Street. I was involved in the 4-H Cattle Program in middle school, and my dad would tempt me with, ‘If you place in the top three, we will look at buying you that dirt bike you have been wanting.’ As we were driving home with a second place ribbon, I reminded him of that and we purchased a Yamaha MX 100 from Buddy. The next year, I go to high school and meet one of my dearest and best friends: Tia Appleton (Suiter). I enjoyed telling her all the stories of her grandfather and how he took care of us and all of our motorcycles. Fast forward some years, and Appleton’s moved from Kraft Street to the 41A Bypass and sold mostly all Harley-Davidson motorcycles. I went to work for the dealership as one of the first female sales representatives. After a couple of years, Tia asked me to be a riding instructor for the dealership. I then became a licensed motorcycle instructor for the Tennessee Highway Patrol, Motorcycle Safety Foundation, and the Harley-Davidson Riding Academy. I have taught motorcycling at Appleton Harley-Davidson for over 10 years. I have met many new friends and motorcycle enthusiasts through the years, and Appleton’s is the base root of family, because not only have they been a part of my life from my childhood until now, there are many others that feel the very same way.” - Novella Coppedge, Riding Academy instructor and family friend.
CELEBRATING APPLETON HARLEY-DAVIDSON’S 70TH ANNIVERSARY • 25
Amber Davidson & Paula Nelson
Milton Moore & Jerome Lockett
Brandon & Jaclyn & Kliest
Stella & Cristo Christoforou
Brianne Wiesner & Petra Roush
Byrstolyn & Elizabeth French Story & Photography by Tony Centonze Clarksville’s Queen City Road Race was back at Liberty Park this year, with nearly 700 runners and walkers signed up to participate in one or more of three races: the 1-mile, 5K, or 10K. In addition to the race, a health and fitness expo sponsored by Publix Super Markets was set up inside the Wilma Rudolph Event Center. The expo featured a variety of vendors and operated on Friday and Saturday. This year’s course was described as flat and fast. It took runners through Liberty Park, down Riverside Drive, along the Cumberland River via McGregor Park, and back to Liberty Park.
Clarksville Mayor Joe & Cynthia Pitts
Phillip & Beth Cales 26 • VIP CLARKSVILLE MAGAZINE
David & Tanisha Kabithe
Elizabeth Golly & Kevin Dempsey
Emily Bridges & Craig Cerrati
Jackson & Leigh Ann Greene
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CELEBRATING APPLETON HARLEY-DAVIDSON’S 70TH ANNIVERSARY • 27
Story & Photography by Tony Centonze Clarksville-Montgomery County School System recently hosted its 12th annual Construction Skills Competition at Wilma Rudolph Event Center.
Aydin Suss
Dahnte Smith & Tanya Hammond
Bert & Linda Singletary
Maddox Biggerman
Construction-related career and technical education courses are offered at five CMCSS high schools, with approximately 375 students across the district currently enrolled in these classes, which offer skills and knowledge necessary to succeed in construction-related fields, including framing, plumbing, and electrical.
Dr. Dayna Paine & Dusty Chandler
J.T. Sims & Dekota Jackson
Landon Hankemeier & Zachary Kreuser
Bubba & Kristi Cherry
Dawson Buckner, James Moody & Ayden Vaughn
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James & Tiffany Bagby
Justin & Bianca NcNees, Tiffany, James & Belle Bagby, Jerry, Sara & Nicholas Bagby
Charles Bloodworth & Crystal Myers
Hunter Yates & Belle Bagby
Brooklyn Nicholson & Troy Shepherd Story & Photography by Tony Centonze Independent candidate for General Sessions Judge, James Bagby, recently held a campaign kickoff event on the second floor of Sanctuary on Main in downtown Clarksville. Dozens of friends, family members and supporters in attendance enjoyed beverages from Scott’s, and catering by Nicoletta’s. “There is no better way to start a journey than surrounded by family and friends,” Bagby said. “Thank you for your support — at the campaign kickoff, and in the months ahead.”
Mayor Jim Durrett & Kevin Kennedy
Kristen Benton & Shelby Nicoletta
Justin & Bianca McNees
Kyle Luther, Tom Creech, Troy Shepherd & James Bagby
Gloria & Mark Underwood
CELEBRATING APPLETON HARLEY-DAVIDSON’S 70TH ANNIVERSARY • 31
Tracie, Finley & Paige Mayberry
Mary Burton, Jimmy Schweitzer & Lauren Randell
Zoey, Kevin & April Gerow
Nick, Matias & Magaly Porter
Story & Photography by Tony Centonze Sango Pharmacy welcomed hundreds of customers and friends to an Easter celebration. The event featured a chance to meet with the Easter Bunny, go on an egg hunt, and shop fantastic sales. The egg hunt was held just after noon in a field outside Sango Pharmacy. Throughout the morning, guests enjoyed charcuterie, pastries and other treats. Two lucky winners also took home handmade Easter baskets that were given away by raffle.
Allison Hill
Faith Cunningham & Nicole Campbell
Carlee Warren & Aaryn Moss
Karra & Beaux Whisman
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Kyle & Ashley Fletcher
Lennon Hill & Maria Castillo
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The Perfect Weekend Getaway
with the girls
Feel that? The sweltering heat, the warm sun on your skin, and the urge to book a flight to just about anywhere? That must mean summer is here! But for those of us that work throughout the week, have kids to care for, and other obligations — packing a bag and going on vacay mode isn’t always easy. And while a week spent lounging on the beach or unwinding lakeside just sounds utterly luxurious, sometimes all you need to feel refreshed is a quick weekend getaway with a few of your best friends. However, as we all know, sometimes it’s really difficult to plan a trip — even when it’s just an overnight stay with your besties. Choosing where to go, what to see, and where to sip or dine inevitably falls on one of our Type A friends that’s on standby with a to-do list and a vision board. But who wants that kind of stress? So, we decided to take
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the guess work out of the perfect girl’s trip and curate two amazing weekend getaways for you and your girls when you just need a reset. Our first trip is to Nashville, but this isn’t your average Broadway bar crawl. We recommend staying at the Graduate Nashville with its trendy vibe and proximity to nightlife happenings in Midtown. And even if you didn’t want to leave the hotel, we can’t say enough about its amazing rooftop bar, the White Limozeen. For our second trip, we chose Franklin, Tennessee. This is definitely our slow-paced getaway, but there’s still so much to do and see. We’d suggest staying at The Harpeth in downtown Franklin, which in addition to its elegant atmosphere also has a bar and restaurant in the hotel. But aside from just the hotels, we hand-selected places to drink, eat, and visit for each trip. So, put that phone on do not disturb, get out of town, and let your hair down for a weekend. You deserve it, bestie.
Visit Nash-Vegas! Stay At: Graduate Nashville Located in the heart of midtown, Graduate Nashville features funky and floral rooms that celebrate the city’s charms. Graduate is pet friendly and filled with amenities like their 24-hour fitness center, karaoke bar, café, rooftop bar and pool, and valet parking!
Graduate Nashville
Drinks At: White Limozeen Graduate’s rooftop bar provides a beautiful view of the Nashville skyline as you enjoy their homestyle spin on French classic food and drinks with your best gals. Reserve your spot to table dine or have access to the Governor’s Pool to get even more from your experience! Visit: Cheekwood Estate & Gardens This estate features a 13 gardens, a 1.5 mile long woodland sculpture trail, a museum filled with 1930s home furnishings, and both a permanent collection and traveling exhibition of artworks. Cheekwood is sure to be the most relaxing part of your getaway. Eat At: Hattie B’s Home of Nashville’s famous hot chicken! Choose your heat level, your favorite sides, and don’t forget dessert. This experience is a quintessential piece of Nashville you won’t want to forget.
Cheekwood Estate & Garden
Frolic in Franklin!
The Harpeth
Stay At: The Harpeth Nestled on the banks of the Harpeth river in downtown Franklin, this luxury hotel features thoughtfully designed and spacious guest rooms and suites. Stop by McGavock’s, the hotel’s European style coffee bar, to enjoy a cup. Make sure to visit 1799 to check out their whiskey and bourbon list along with their mouthwatering food. Visit: The Factory at Franklin Located just up the road from Main Street of Franklin is a former stove factory that is now a top destination for shopping, food, and entertainment. Between the restaurants and shops, there’s sure to be something here for everyone! Their Mockingbird Theater features a full bar and regularly hosts live music and other special events.
Arrington Vineyards
Drinks At: Arrington Vineyards Welcome to Nashville’s wine country! This award-winning vineyard has multiple attractions in which to enjoy their selections including a pavillion, barn, and picnic areas. They offer frosé drinks, tastings by the flight, and even group tastings. In the summer months you might even experience live music or food truck days!
CELEBRATING APPLETON HARLEY-DAVIDSON’S 70TH ANNIVERSARY • 35
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Karissa Poe & Rashidah Leverett
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Merriel Bullock-Neal & Rich Harwood
Story & Photography by Tony Centonze Leadership Clarksville recently invited local leaders to join in a series of discussions on a report issued by The Harwood Institute for Public Innovation, a non-profit, nonpartisan organization that equips people, organizations, communities, and networks with the tools to bridge divides, build capacity, and tackle shared technologies. Rich Harwood, founder of the institute, led discussions with local leaders in business, government, education, and other organizations about the report, entitled “Clarksville-MoCo Stepping Into the Future: A New Agenda for Education and the Community.” Monique Mosley & Rich Harwood
Chris Buerck & Melinda Shepard
Monique Mosley & Yolonda Williams
Rashidah Leverett & Dr. Brad Moser
Rob Selkow & Jennifer Hinote
Joel Wallace & Rich Holladay
CELEBRATING APPLETON HARLEY-DAVIDSON’S 70TH ANNIVERSARY • 37
MEET THE CLARKSVILLE POLICE DEPARTMENT CRIME SCENE TEAM
When looking at the Clarksville Police Department’s specialized teams, there’s one team in particular that gets called out more than any other. That would be the Crime Scene Team, and they are called to work the scenes of homicides, suicides, violent crimes, and other suspicious deaths on average between 60 and 70 times a year. But this year is already proving to be incredibly busy for the team — we’re only halfway through 2022, and the CST is nearing 70 calls out to crime scenes. The main objective of the team is to respond to crime scenes or places where some type of violent crime has been committed. Members are then tasked with collecting, photographing, and processing anything that might be considered evidence. This is crucial for solving the crime, and apprehending those responsible. And while some of our favorite forensic shows like CSI: Crime Scene Investigation or Criminal Minds touch on the work this team does, they don’t really give the whole picture.
DETECTIVE JASON KURTICH
“The real difference is that on TV, for a lot of those crime scenes, the evidence is collected, processed, and the crime is solved in 30 minutes,” Detective Jason Kurtich, field commander of the CST, said. “With us, when we collect the evidence, sometimes it takes months or even a year for certain pieces of evidence to be sent off to the lab, processed, and for those results to come back.” So what does that process at the scene actually look like? For starters, there’s a scientific and methodical order of operation, beginning with team members determining what could be evidence of the crime by conducting a walkthrough of the scene upon arrival. “Once that’s determined, we’ll go through the stages with each discipline. Usually, our video person will go through first and video the entire crime scene as it is when we get there. Then, for what we determine to be evidence, we’ll lay down number markers and video the scene again with those number markers in place. Then, a photography person will come in and photograph everything in place just like it is, and then our collection person will come through and write on a pad what the item is and where it’s at. Once that’s done, it will be collected so that’s how the disciplines go,” Kurtich told VIP. 38 • VIP CLARKSVILLE MAGAZINE
Each of the team’s members have their own special discipline, be it photography, videography, blood stain analysis, or DNA collection. They all also have specific training for their respective disciplines. Just a year ago, the team began using a new tool: a laser-mapping system called FARO. The FARO is able to map a room, and render a three-dimensional model of the scene along with registering every piece of evidence so the team no longer has to do it by hand. Kurtich said the tool is used on homicide scenes only at this point. “Basically, it freezes that scene and it can be brought back up in court, and we can put the jury in the scene of what we’ve seen that day,” Kurtich continued. And when their work on the physical crime scene ends, which sometimes takes two to three days to process just depending on the size of the scene, it’s still technically not over. “When we leave that scene, we have a massive amount of paperwork that we have to do over the next couple weeks to get all that stuff sent off to the lab and get it ready for the detectives. That’s something that we do that other specialized units don’t have to do,” Kurtich continued. And then on top of that, when that case goes to trial years later, CST members are called upon to testify about the evidence they collected. “A lot of the time, it’s several years later and we go through so many scenes that sometimes you don’t remember every little detail of it, so there’s a lot of paperwork that we have to do to document everything we do to refer back to,” he said. When asked what they wished the general public knew about the work they do, one thing that several team members noted was that they wish there was more understanding about the time it takes to do their job — and to do it right. “A lot of the time, when we’re out on a scene, we’re disrupting traffic. The public is curious about what we’re doing and why it’s taking so long. It’s because the process and how we do it is very in depth, and we have to take our time to go through it, so it takes awhile,” Kurtich said. In other words, if a road is closed and the CST is there, it’s for a reason. And that public frustration can be additionally challenging when most if not all crime scenes are emotionally charged. “Not only are we dealing with the crime scene at hand, we’re also dealing with the emotions of the family members that have been directly impacted from their loss or that scene,” Detective Elijah Horton, member of the CST, told VIP. Because they respond to homicides, suicides, and other deaths, some scenes they are tasked with processing are incredibly gruesome and disturbing. This definitely takes an emotional toll on the team as well, but CST members go the extra mile to support one another. “A lot of it is just the group, you know it’s not just one person dealing with everything, it’s eight or nine people all going through the same thing. We’re all taking pictures of the same stuff, taking videos of the same stuff. It’s not just one person going alone with anything,” Officer Cody Heath, another CST member, said.
And that support helps them achieve the end goal: getting justice for the victims of these crimes. “What keeps me inspired is the justice that we get for the victims. I rely on prayer, and I also rely on my family and my peers to get through the tough
scenes that we have to see,” Horton said. “The victim cannot speak for themselves anymore. So that’s what we’re trying to do is paint a picture and hold people accountable for it,” Kurtich added.
HAVE INFORMATION ON A CRIME? REPORT A CRIME, REMAIN ANNONYMOUS. RECEIVE $$$ REWARD. WE DO NOT WANT YOUR NAME, ONLY INFORMATION ON CRIMES.
CELEBRATING APPLETON HARLEY-DAVIDSON’S 70TH ANNIVERSARY • 39
Kelly Clifton & Antonette Borja
Chris Buerck & Jenn McMillion
Story & Photography by Tony Centonze In advance of this year’s Bowl for Kids Sake — Big Brothers Big Sisters of Clarksville’s largest annual fundraiser — local bankers gathered for their annual Bankers’ Challenge and raised more than $28,000 for the mentoring organization. “It’s not about the score, it’s about impacting the lives of the youth in our community, leading them toward a brighter future, and giving them a person in their corner inspiring them to do great things,” the organization said of its goal. “Our mission is to provide children facing adversity with strong and enduring, professionally supported one-to-one relationships that change their lives for the better, forever.”
Stephanie Wooten, Tammy Greene & Tommy Bates
Leslie Sinks & Julisa Meadows 40 • VIP CLARKSVILLE MAGAZINE
Sallie Eley, Mary Beth Thomas, John Peck, Kimberly Miller, Morgan Quinton & Conchetta Willis
Kimberly Pipkins & Khandra Smalley
Legends Bank’s ‘They see us bowlin’, they hatin’’ team
Matt Claffey & Kate Ellis
Shareen Barker. Charlie & Kasey Breedon
James & Tiffany Bagby Story & Photography by Tony Centonze Big Brothers Big Sisters of Clarksville held its 39th Annual Bowl for Kids Sake, a fundraising campaign, at the Pinnacle Family Entertainment Center. The event was made up of two days of bowling, with this year’s Bankers’ Challenge raising more than $28,000 and Community Bowl topping $22,000, for a total of more than $50,000 to support at-risk youth mentoring in Clarksville-Montgomery County. BBBS pairs youth facing adversity with adults who ignite their potential and show them how to reach further and achieve more in life. Learn more at www.bbbsclarksville.org.
Jessica Cox, Alicia & Damien Hosenfeld, Kyra Johnson
Dr. Lorneth Peters & Elizabeth Vincent
Rebecca Guglielmo & Emma Mallison
Jonathan Allen, Gloria Osborne, Julie Hallums, Allison Clinard & Hannah McMillion
Becky & Emily Adams
Chris Buerck & Mandi Michaels
Jessica Biter & Randy Rau
Jonathan Allen & Gloria Osborne
CELEBRATING APPLETON HARLEY-DAVIDSON’S 70TH ANNIVERSARY • 41
SALUTE TO SERVICE The Montgomery County Veterans Treatment Court The Montgomery County Veterans Treatment Court, or VTC, was established in 2012 by the Honorable Judge Ken Goble to address the local need for a more specialized court to serve and offer treatment options to veterans and active duty soldiers who are involved with the criminal justice system. These service members are also dealing with substance abuse disorders, mental health crises, or cooccurring disorders. The court program is based off of the very first VTC, which was established 2008 in Buffalo, New York, where it proved to be incredibly successful. Montgomery County’s VTC was the first of its kind to be established in Tennessee, and it’s also the largest VTC. But how does the program help veterans and soldiers who have been charged with a crime? After a veteran or solider is selected for VTC, an initial assessment is made, and they are assigned a case manager and mentor. This is where they begin Phase I of the program. Based on their individual needs, a treatment plan is created by the participant’s team, and they have to attend court and a VTC group meeting weekly. They’re required to follow a curfew, pass sobriety tests, and report to their case managers throughout the program for progress tracking. VTC Director Edward Moss is retired military and has a master’s degree in criminological theory. “Every one of us are veterans, and all of our case managers have a master’s in social work,” Moss said. “We all have a background in criminal justice, but that’s how I got here — through retirement and then working through the system as well. Every mentor has a military background as well, so there’s no loss of communication or continuity of the habits our participants might have had in the Army or Navy.” Throughout all of the program’s phases — of which there are five — the court provides participants access to inpatient or outpatient treatment for mental and substance abuse disorders. The program also gives each participant the opportunity to engage with counseling services, including individual, family, or marriage counseling. In phases II through IV, participants are required to continue their treatment plan maintain drug screening compliance, but their requirements, like the curfew, frequency of meeting attendance — become less strict. The court also provides assistance in applying for vocational training or college and transitional services to help some veterans find and keep a job. In almost all instances, when a veteran or active duty soldier completes the program — or achieves Phase 5 — their charge is reduced to a lesser offense in judgement. And in many of the cases, the veteran or solider will have that charge expunged from their record. Several graduates of the program have returned, some to share their successes and others to help those who are in the tough situation where they once were. “All of the mentors are veterans, and quite a few of them are what we call Phase 5-ers, meaning they’re VTC for life people. They’re paying it forward by helping people that have come behind them,” Judge Goble told VIP. “We have way more successes than we have failures. The failures sting the worst, but we have to focus on the ones we do win. We can’t focus on the battles we lose,” Judge Goble continued. Currently, the program has almost 100 active participants, and about a 6% recidivism rate. Compared to the state’s data, which shows an average recidivism rate of about 46% within three years of release, the VTC program proves to be a Godsend for many. 42 • VIP CLARKSVILLE MAGAZINE
One success Judge Goble is particularly proud of is the story of an ROTC cadet who was charged with DUI. Goble said this cadet came through the program and did everything asked of him with a positive attitude. Because of the DUI charge, the Army declined to commission him. “In spite of that, his attitude was “Well, I’m the one that put myself there, so I have to face the consequences and I’ll figure out a way to get there anyway.’ Because he was such an inspiring guy, General Walt Lord at Austin Peay went to bat for him, some of our guys went to bat for him, and I went to bat for him. I just happened to know a couple generals in key positions so I spoke to them, and they couldn’t commission him, but they gave him another path,” Goble told VIP. “That’s just one of hundreds of stories. We’ve graduated almost 500 people from this program.” On his passion for serving our service members who’ve already given so much, Judge Goble said it comes naturally. “It has a lot to do with my dad, and his service. I have been involved with the military my whole adult life. I owned a company that deals with the military, I was president of AUSA during Desert Storm and Desert Shield. It’s all I’ve known my whole life, I’v had some connection with the military my whole life. I know what it’s like to be a family member, I’ve witnessed what it’s like to be a service member. I’ve seen the sacrifices they and their families have made in the name of our country. There’s a huge difference between civilians and the military — the way they talk, the way they walk, and the way they do business. I’m a good balance between both worlds.” To apply for the program, interested veterans or active duty soldiers must submit an application through their attorney. Along with the application, interested candidates must provide a DD-214, proof of service, copy of their warrant, and a current mental health of substance abuse assessment. The VTC team will then review the application to determine if the program is right for them. Active duty soldiers or veterans who are charged with a violent offense may be considered for the VTC as long as their offense did not result in serious physical injury to another, and all parties involved — including victims — have been consulted. The MCVTC is held every Tuesday at 1:45 p.m. in the DIV I courtroom with Judge Ken Goble. Assisting Judge Goble is the VTC Team and the Veteran Mentor Program. Court is open to the public and visitors are welcome.
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Story & Photography by Tony Centonze Strawberry Alley Ale Works recently hosted its first Tapping Party of 2022, featuring their newest brew, No Zest for the Wicked — a Mexican-style lager brewed with lime and salt. Strawberry Alley’s ale ambassadors were granted early entry to the event. Guests had a chance to take home Strawberry Alley swag, packs of beer, and other merchandise with raffles happening throughout the evening. A portion of the proceeds from the event was donated to the Clarksville Chapter of Big Brothers Big Sisters. Grace Lord & Cathy Dimuzio
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Story & Photography by Tony Centonze The Clarksville Area Chamber of Commerce hosted its April edition of Business After Hours at O’Connor’s Irish Pub & Grill on Tylertown Road. Chamber members were invited to “Clarksville’s premier networking event, for an opportunity to make new business connections and enjoy great food and fun.” Greg Parbs and his team at O’Connor’s welcomed Chamber members with drinks, music, and hospitality. Nicoletta’s Catering provided the food.
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YAIPAK OUTREACH YAIPak Outreach has become well known in the Clarksville-Montgomery County community over the last several years for their efforts to eradicate homelessness and meet those who are without a home wherever they’re at. Whether it’s offering of support, resources, or ministry, the nonprofit organization founded by Sherry Nicholson has a vision: “To meet those that are neglected, hurting or afflicted where they are in order to provide support, comfort, and resources aimed at promoting positive life changes and reminding them that they are loved and important.” But, YAIPak has expanded its footprint beyond caring for those experiencing homelessness. Their new warehouse facility at 1255 Paradise Hill Road in Clarksville is a massive upgrade from their first location on N. 2nd Street, and has allowed them to take on more projects. Between assisting those in Waverly, Tennessee, and which was ravaged flooding in August of 2021, and the towns in western Kentucky that were demolished by tornadoes in December of 2021, the organization has also stepped up to help children in the foster care program and veterans experiencing hardship or homelessness. Here’s more information about each of YAIPak’s projects, and how you can help make their mission a reality for those in need.
#ProjectFosterHope Through this project, YAIPak partners with school social workers, foster care parents, first responders, and child protective services to make sure children in need have everything they need. By providing a Box of Joy with brand new items that meet the necessities of the child, YAIPak also helps support the child’s self-esteem. In addition to the Box of Joy, YAIPak is in the middle of building something in their new warehouse they’re calling the Riley Room. It’s set up as a boutique-style shop, where children can pick out a new toy, new clothing, and toiletries. This is a lifeline for some fostering families, case workers, and children in the foster care system. For children that cannot come to the warehouse, YAIPak will pack them a backpack with essentials and new items, but the Riley Room gives children some agency in what they want to pick out.
#ProjectPatriotHope This project specifically caters to local homeless veterans by helping to meet their basic life needs, YAIPak also helps connect homeless veterans with the right resources to attain and use their benefits earned through military service. They also provide vital resources for physical, emotional, and spiritual healing, and follow along on the veteran’s process while offering continuous support. Like #ProjectFosterHope, this project ensures each veteran receives a Tote of Hope as they move from homelessness to housing. They’re also dedicated to providing furnishings for that new home, and the hope is that eventually a portion of the new warehouse will serve as a furniture store for those veterans in need of furnishings. 48 • VIP CLARKSVILLE MAGAZINE
#ProjectRebuildHope This is YAIPak’s disaster relief branch, and was born out of necessity after the floods and tornadoes in surrounding areas. By partnering with local government officials and first responders, YAIPak steps in to help recovery, relief, and rebuilding efforts by organizing volunteers and hosting events. They also partner with local churches and organizations, and provide clean up equipment and supplies for those families whose lives were irreparably changed by disaster. For assisting in the immediate aftermath and lengthy rebuild process, YAIPak offers emergency shower and laundry services, and they’ve just acquired a brand new, generatorpowered washer and dryer trailer.
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Affordable! #BeTheHope The phrase #BeTheHope has been central in everything YAIPak does, and it’s the organization’s original mission in supporting those who are experiencing hardship or homelessness. YAIPak’s goal with this project is to establish YAI Chapters across the nation, so those experiencing trauma have access to a network of support. They also aim to bridge the gap between organizations and local government agencies to provide sustainable life necessities for those in need. Through relationships with other agencies and nonprofits, YAIPak provides resources that lead to recovery after battling addiction, and support to all through large community events and organizational outreaches. They also give supplies to international missionaries who are serving impoverished areas, expanding their footprint even more.
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To make a monetary contribution, YAIPak accepts donations through their website at yaioutreach.org. Donations such as gently used clothing or furniture, toiletries, household goods, nonperishable food items can be dropped off at 1255 Paradise Hill Road on Mondays from 9 a.m. to noon, Wednesdays from noon to 2 p.m., and Thursdays, from 5 to 8 p.m. To get involved with YAIPak Outreach as a volunteer, call 615-559-7710. To report someone who needs help, call 615-559-8272.
Centurion Stone of Clarksville 1263 Paradise Hill Road, Clarksville centurionstone.com • 931-221-0120
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Mayor Joe Pitts and Clarksville’s Rotary Clubs recently joined with Olena Lovett and other members of Clarksville’s Ukrainian community for the CFR Chief Freddie Montgomery, Jr. & raising of the Ukrainian flag at McGregor Park’s Avenue of Flags on Henry Kilpatrick Riverside Drive. “We’re happy to share this stage and moment with our Ukrainian neighbors and friends,” Rotary President Chris Buerck said. “Rotary is about inclusivity … we try to honor our community and serve as best we can. ... Clarksville is a city of immigrants, from different cities, states, countries. We all come here, and we all call it home.” “Today signals our city government’s commitment to the folks in Ukraine,” Pitts said. “We see you, we hear you, and we stand with you. As America’s flag is flown to commemorate the hard-fought freedom we enjoy, the flag of Ukraine will now fly proudly and permanently on the Avenue of Flags.”
Anthonie Vaughns & Tyler Mayes
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Anastasiya Heath, Oksana & Mika Moskalenko
Olena Lovett & Mayor Joe Pitts
Candace Wilson & Chris Trawinski
Kimberly Wiggins & Chris Buerck
Tetyana & Lyudmila Kutova, Larissa Reznik
Monica Gonzalez & Seamus Wilson
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Story & Photography by Tony Centonze Leadership Clarksville recently held its First Annual Spring Alumni Social at Austin Peay State University’s Raymond C. Hand Park, where members watched the Governors take on the University of North Alabama.
Brad Moser & Rich Holladay
Rich Holladay, executive director of Leadership Clarksville, reported lots of fun and fellowship among Leadership Clarksville alumni in attendance, some of whom have been members of the program since 1988. Holladay gave special thanks to Gerald Harrison, APSU Athletics, Mark Chester, Ajax Distributing, Nicoletta’s Catering, and LC Alumni Committee CoChair Norman Quirion.
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Story & Photography by Tony Centonze Legends Smokehouse & Grill on Riverside Drive was packed for County Commissioner Rashidah Leverett’s official re-election campaign kickoff.
Allen & Tamika Bragg
Supporters began arriving at 5 p.m. to meet and speak with Leverett, as she launched her bid to continue as District 5 County Commissioner, a position she has held since 2018.
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The candidate greeted friends and supporters at the door, and took photos with them in front of her banner. Inside, supporters enjoyed pork and beef BBQ sandwiches with various sides.
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Lawson Mabry & Tony Eldridge
Michelle Newell & Marc Harris
Sheena Dixon & Armi Rhodes
Paul Rhodes & Kevin Smith
Rosalind Kurita & Dr. George Kurita
Sharita Wysinger & Andrea Berry
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Alicia Edwards & Stephanie Nester
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Angel Rosenthal & Krista Miller Story & Photography by Tony Centonze Bella’s Closet was set up at Fort Campbell recently to assist women with shoes, clothing, and accessories in an effort to prepare them for their first meeting with dozens of employers at this year’s Outdoor Job Fair hosted by Fort Campbell Spouse Employment Center. Those interested in a new career were instructed to dress for success, and to bring copies of their resume, a pen, and a portfolio in which to place information gathered from potential employers. Representatives from Amazon, Bank of America, Clarksville’s police and fire departments, Vanderbilt University, and more than 50 other companies were on site, eager to meet with prospective employees.
Detectives Evon Parkes & Brittany Hubbard
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Maxine Courbat & Terry Jalinski
Marisa Roberts & Tijuana Cortoles
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Casey Cochran & Florecel Badajos
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Ricardo Gonzalez & Daniel Knight
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Story & Photography by Tony Centonze Clarksville Networking Group recently hosted an open house event at The Press, located at 200 Commerce Street, inside the former Leaf-Chronicle building. The event was sponsored by Millan Enterprises, LLC., and offered local business owners a chance to meet with other entrepreneurs. In addition to a grazing spread presented by Nicoletta’s Catering, guests were treated to booths manned by folks from Artlink, Brand my Swag, Simply Skin by Julianna Smith, and others. Robyn Bass, owner and CEO of Maple Ridge Events, was the guest speaker. Raeshandra Floyd, Aminah Eyiowuawi, Robyn Bass & Martine Basden
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Marston & Josh Ledvina
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Jim Amos & Theresa Muckleroy
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The Clarksville Area Chamber of Commerce hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony at Ferguson Bath, Kitchen & Lighting Gallery, which was followed by a grand opening celebration that featured food, beverages, and more. Ferguson’s team of professionals will be able to offer expert advice on a range of products and services to improve construction, renovation, and maintenance projects. The showroom on W. Dunbar Cave Road offers kitchen, bath, and lighting styles along with new solutions from top brands.
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Story & Photography by Tony Centonze The Kinsley Lynch Foundation hosted its Second Annual Child Safety Fair at Governor’s Square Mall. Parents were invited to bring their kids out for a chance to tour a fire truck, a police car, and an ambulance. Clarksville Gas & Water also had trucks and equipment on site. Approximately 60 vendors were on hand, offering a variety of products and services. DJ Joe Padula provided the music, and everyone enjoyed an afternoon of food, fun, dancing, face-painting, and more.
Brianna Odom & Jennifer Fisher
Alyssa Fernandez & Shanequa Isaac
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Aurelia Christy & Kathryn Bomar
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Crystal Norris & Amy Sims
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MORE THAN TWO DECADES OF SERVICE TO MONTGOMERY COUNTY As State Representative, Tommy will fight for — Improvements to Infrastructure Parents’ Rights Support to Law Enforcement Schools Under The New TISA Formula Pro Second Amendment Constitutional Rights
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kaylaGUNTER gunter KAYLA Kayla Gunter is the owner of Century 21 Platinum Properties and Platinum Realty and Management. In between running a multi-location franchise, and keeping up with her step-daughters and their ball games and gymnastics practices, Gunter said she and her family love to go to the lake on weekends. What’s the history of your business? “I was born and raised in Clarksville, and my father is a third-generation contractor, so it was kind of natural for me to want to go into the real estate business. I went to Austin Peay State University, got my real estate license when I was a senior. It was the Christmas before I graduated and I started working with one of my mentors, Todd Harvey, to make sure that was what I wanted to do. I worked at Byers and Harvey for close to 10 years, and then decided that I wanted to branch out and open my own company. I partnered with Katie Owen, and she and I opened up Century 21 Platinum Properties and Platinum Realty and Management, which is a property management business about seven years ago, and here we are.” What was it that made you want to start your own business? “At the time, it was mainly about technology. Without access to a franchise network, I was having to pay out of pocket for services and technological tools that were helping me keep at the top of the game. When I realized I could own a franchise and have all of that provided to me, that was the main drive. I had actually gone to the owner of Byers and Harvey, and said, ‘Do you want to partner and franchise,’ and he was real sweet about it, and said, ‘I think that eventually I’m going to want to land my plane, and your plane is just taking off.’ He’s been supportive of that since day one, which I don’t think a lot of people have when they leave one job and go to another.” What are some misconceptions you think people have about owning and running your own business? “I think the biggest is the funds, time, and energy it takes to do it. I think a lot of people believe that when you’re the boss, you’re just raking in
the dough and don’t understand what goes out every month between insurance and rent or mortgages if you own your own buildings. I think they just see what comes in and don’t understand what goes out. Same thing with your time. We can have this life on social media where it looks like we’re traveling and doing all these fun things all the time but they don’t see the hours and the energy that goes into getting prepared to even be able to do that. I do play hard — I like going to the beach and the lake but I work lots of hours to make that happen.” How do you feel like your education and experiences and other prepared you for where you are now? “I could have received my real estate license without graduating from college, but I do think that those four years were helpful. For one, the maturity that you get over that time from 18 to 21 and the structure. The business classes were helpful as well, and I might not be a marketing major, but those marketing classes have definitely helped me every day in my career. I might have not gone into finance, but I help people with the biggest financial decision they’re most likely going to make every day. I use so much of my education every day, and then the network piece of it too. I was in a sorority, and those connections too, help set me up for success.” What is unique about owning a business in your industry? “One thing that’s unique is that most of the people I work with on a daily basis are independent contractors, so they’re running their own businesses within our business. I don’t set hours, I don’t say they have to come in from 9 to 5. They’ve got to be their own boss and make work a priority for them. I do think that’s unique in a sense because the people that are W-2s and paid as employees, not independent contractors within our organization, we all work with each other. Nobody really works for us or for our company, we all work together. For our real estate company, we’ve been very selective, so our growth has been steady but I think that has kept us where we have a really good culture. People say that that comes from the top and it comes from leadership, but I learn more from them every day than they could ever learn from me. I think good people find good people.”
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BARBARA U INO barbara AQ aquino Dr. Barbara Aquino is the owner of Aquino Pediatrics, LLC. She was born and raised in the Philippines, where she received her medical degree. She completed her residency in pediatrics at Brookdale University Hospital Medical Center in Brooklyn, New York. She then started practicing medicine in Clarksville in 1996, and opened her own practice in 2002. And, fun fact, she used to be our editor’s pediatrician!
in a military town as my staff followed where their spouses had orders to go next. Being my own business and having that responsibility, it is a constant effort to make sure I checked everybody’s work. Every day is always an overtime work schedule .
What’s the history of your business? “Two prominent Clarksville physicians — Dr. Creekmore and Dr. Peterson — had the vision to create a primary care practice composed of a group of internists and pediatricians all in one building, hence the Alpha Medical Group started in 1996. I remember that first day when we opened for business. I think we had one or two patients on our schedule. But slowly, Alpha Medical Group was growing. Unfortunately, for one reason or another, the group was dissolved and it was a natural progression that we all went our separate ways. The template for going into private business was created, and I followed the course. Aquino Pediatrics, LLC started thereafter in January of 2002.”
“Life is an education in itself. Being constantly around doctors, it is a common theme for most of us to serve others. If I had to do it over again, I don’t think I would change anything. You live your life fully engaged every day in helping some young family.”
What was it that made you want to start your own business? “I grew up in the Philippines and we were a goal-oriented family, so it was expected of us to have a career and a business. My parents were business oriented. I never wanted to work for someone else. It was always my endeavor to carve out my own destiny, and what better way to do it than to take care of children just as I did playing doctor growing up. So I guess you could say I cheated, as it was always my dream and didn’t seem like work to me.” What are some misconceptions you think people have about owning and running your own business? “It is not as easy as one would think. Things are constantly evolving and keeping abreast of new trends and education is always necessary. Staff members are constantly changing, so when you finally finish training a new staff member, the process had to be constantly repeated especially
How do you feel like your education and other life experiences prepared you for where you are now?
What is unique about owning a business in your industry? “One unique thing that happens more often now is running into people like yourself who used to be little kids under my care. Here you are many years later, interviewing me and it gives me so much pride to see you as a grown woman in your line of business. Over and over again, I run into others who tell me, ‘Dr. Aquino, you used to be my doctor.’ Also, what’s as gratifying, is I see the kids of the kids I’ve taken care of. I don’t think you can get this kind of second time satisfaction in any other industry. It leaves me going to bed at night with a smile on my face as I realize just how far I have come and how many lives I have had the chance to share my experiences with.” What is your advice to other women looking to start their own business? “Find your passion. Look at what you enjoyed the most in your youth. Talk to others and ask many questions. Once you know what you want, give it your 100 percent or more. You will find others you can relate to, which will propel you beyond where you thought you could go. Do not do something you hate or something that makes you sad. Try to be around like-minded happy people as you only have one life to live and it needs to be a happy and fulfilling life. Above all else, always keep abreast of your health. It is the biggest thing that can get away from you hidden by youth and daily ritual.”
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jasmine miller JASMINE MILLER Jasmine Miller is the owner of The Wax House in Clarksville, a full-service spa that offers waxing and esthetician services. In addition to running the spa, she works as an accountant for the state of Tennessee, and she has two kids. She is in the process of opening up a new Wax House location in Nashville.
What is the history of you business? “I have been established as a business since 2019. I graduated college and my boss was telling me I needed to do something else besides just working for the state. And I was like OK, and I was doing one of my normal pampering days in Nashville, and when I was sitting there, I was talking to some of the other girls. They were talking about how they had to come to Nashville because they didn’t have a place for these services where we were from. I was like, ‘That’s why I’m here too, there’s no place to get it done in Clarksville.’ At that time, it was just Eden Day Spa or the nail salons, and Eden was only using a soft wax. I started using hard wax because it hurts less than the soft wax. I really liked that wax, the method, and I thought the results were a little bit better for the price. I started saving up after that, I did the legal side of setting everything up that year. Then I had to also find my staff. At the end of May in 2020, I signed a lease to rent a space. I didn’t have anything, I was just winging it at this point. I put ads on Indeed and then started remodeling some of the inside. Prior, it was a loan office so there were already individual rooms like I needed, so I just needed to pull the carpet, do some painting. I found all my people, got it all done, and then on July 1 of 2020, we opened up our doors and we’ve been running since. I love it.” What made you want to start your business? “Waxing actually helped me with some insecurities that I had with myself. I had some ingrown hairs and everything, which is normal from shaving, and some discoloration. I started getting waxed when I was going to Eden Day Spa, and I really loved going there. And the girl who would wax me there, that was my girl. She didn’t judge me. She ended changing her schedule to where I wasn’t able to see her and that was one of the reasons I stopped going there. But I realized after getting waxed that I was loving myself a little bit more, I worried a little less, and I did gain a lot of confidence. After COVID happened, we started adding a lot of facial services because people was coming and their skin was messed up, so we tried to figure out what would help, so we added facials and peels. It helps with discoloration, and everyone that comes in there, the vibe is good and everyone gets along, and they feel like they’re talking to a friend. I love that people are coming in there and leave in 30 minutes a whole other person. It’s a good feeling to see somebody happy.” When did it dawn on you that you wanted to become an entrepreneur? “It was in high school. I took accounting classes and I liked it. I went to Austin Peay, and majored in accounting. I ended up starting with the state in 2016. I
felt like I was going to be doing everything that I had learned in school, for the state, but no. I think it’s easier because I’m not doing actual services, I just do the backend of things, so when I realized I wasn’t doing anything that I’d really gone to school for, I was like ‘Man, it’s still not there, but opening my own business would be great.’ And now, I honestly feel like everything I learned in school is getting used and in a hands-on way, so I think that’s great.” What are some misconceptions you think people have about owning and running your own business? “I think people think it’s easy. People believe it’ll be this 9 to 5, and then they think if I have my own business, I can make my own hours. But it’s not like that. I am working all day and night. It’s always something, and if you can’t adjust to change instantly, you’re definitely not going to be successful. I think people think when they become their own boss, they can just do whatever. I feel like it’s a great experience, and I love having my own business because I feel like I can leave something to my kids to have if that’s something they want. Or I can build something up, and then once I’m ready to go to my next adventure, I can sell it, so I like that aspect of being an entrepreneur because people will buy your business.” How do you feel like your education and experiences and other prepared you for where you are now? “I feel like my hands-on experience, especially from my other jobs, was the most important. I treat my girls the way I’ve been treated, or the way I wish some people might have treated me. I managed a clothing store at the mall, and the owner was so amazing. And I learned a lot from working for him. Even though it was a clothes store, I learned a lot through hands-on experience with that. My mentors are actually my bosses from the state, which is probably another reason I don’t want to leave because I talk to them about my personal life and stuff, and they give me so much advice. It’s such a great experience, like I really love that they help me and give me advice. But they also keep me accountable, and sometimes I’m dreading their call, but I need that.” What advice would you have for other people? “Just do it. If you are sitting back waiting until you’re ready, you’re never going to be ready. Just jump into it and roll with the punches. Like COVID obviously really affected the way we were going about opening, but none of my girls have caught COVID on the job. I’ve been so so thankful. It’ll be two years on July 1. It really was a big accomplishment. Nobody has gotten sick, and they see at least 10 to 15 clients per person, per day. There’s a lot of traffic. But I would tell anybody that if it’s something you want to do, then do it. If you wait until you’re ready, you won’t be ready. Just make sure that you can roll with whatever God throws in front of you because every day, it’s always going to be something. As long as you’ve accomplished something each day, you’re doing good.”
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cathiMAYNARD maynard CATHI Cathi Maynard is the owner of Shelby’s Trio, the new restaurant and rooftop bar complex coming to Clarksville this fall. In addition to the Shelby’s Trio project and ownership of several properties around town, the Maynard family also sponsors National Hot Rod Association driver Tony Schumacher, an 8-time world champion drag racer. How did the idea to open a restaurant come about? ”The idea to open a restaurant has been my lifelong dream. I gave up my bucket list for this and this became my bucket list. When we decided to go, we jumped. We started with the restaurant, but we also have rental properties, then the offices. We have two other buildings that are being leased, and then the offices on Jefferson Street and Spring Street. Now we’re looking into more, we’ve got Trio Hospitality instead of just Shelby’s Trio. We’ve created Trio Hospitality and my core management group: Mike Patterson, Sara Golden, and Stacey Streetman and my general manager Loretta Bearden will be part of that. We’re also going to have Trio Transportation, because we’re going to do valet parking.” But it’s not just one restaurant, so how did the whole Shelby’s Trio come into fruition? “We didn’t plan on it being massive. We were talking about just Shelby’s — one restaurant — on that property and maybe putting condos on the second floor. What my husband does so often is he wakes up in the middle of the night or at 6 in the morning with an epiphany. And he woke up and said, ‘We’re not just going to build Shelby’s, and it be one restaurant,’ and I said, ‘No? What are we going to do?’ And he said, ‘We’re going to build Shelby’s Trio.’ I mean, it just comes to him overnight. We have great faith, and he will say a prayer before he goes to sleep, ask God for guidance and to show him what to do. He woke up in the morning with Shelby’s Trio, so we feel like it will be blessed because I mean that’s when Joe’s prayers are answered. He just knows what he’s going to do. I know two people in this world touched by God, and he’s one of them.” What did the steps look like to getting the Shelby’s Trio project to where it is now? ”I thought I knew what I didn’t know. I thought I knew everything I needed to know and needed help with. And then we started by getting ahold of Mike Boisseau (B.R. Miller) for the construction, and Brad Martin, the architect (Lyle Cook Martin). We sat down and drew it all out and said, ‘Okay, this is what we’re going to do.’ It didn’t look that big on paper, and halfway through, Joe said, ‘You know, this restaurant is going to be huge,’ and I said, ‘No it’s not,’ as I’m only having 40 tables on the second floor and I’m only having this many on the first, and then the outside seating area. The third floor will mostly be standing room. He said, ‘No
Cat, you don’t understand. This is 18,000 square feet.’ I said ‘What? Joe, we’re building it too big.’ And then we started doing the seating and really getting into occupancy, and I’m like holy good gunga munga. It’s huge. We didn’t intend for it to be this big, it just happened and we’re dealing with it. When we first started, I was doing good with everything I thought I needed to know. I mean, I have managed restaurants — big restaurants — but I’ve never built one. So it turns out, I didn’t know what I didn’t know. Luckily I have Tracy Miller (Lyle Cook Martin) and Sara Golden who have been a big part of getting our project and the design and interior to where we are today. A lot of hard work and long hours on everyone’s part.” How do you feel like your life experiences helped you to get where you are? “I started when I was 14. I was a bartender when I was 16. I went in the Army when I was 18, married Joe when I was 26 and I have managed the NCO Club on post. The last restaurant I was a part of was from 1999 to 2003. I used to help a friend of mine, she had Down Home Texas Barbecue in California where we lived in Brentwood. And that’s exactly what it was: we served ribs, pulled pork, brisket, chicken — all the barbecue and all the fixings. And then she got cancer. We made everything from scratch. We had a smoker, so we did our own meats. We went and bought our own meat from the butcher. Everything we did from scratch. We used a food service for the basics like the staples and stuff like that, but the meats we wanted to pick out. So she got cancer, and at first, she was out four or five days a week. So instead of just helping cook and serve, now I was opening, smoking, and shopping. Her husband picked up some of the shopping, but I was balancing money, I was doing all of it for almost a year. And then, the chemo got her and she went down hard. When she did come back, it was part time I was with her part of 2001, all of 2002, and in 2003, she came back gradually and we moved to Clarksville in April. They ended up selling. What advice would you have for someone looking to open a business? “Find a Sara Golden. If you don’t know what you don’t know, find someone who is willing to jump with you and have your back — someone who’ll get out there and do the research to work with you. They’re going to need a Sara. It’s a lot of fun. It’s confusing at times, but you have to have a good team. Figure out your tentative budget, then add 75% — surprise! Have patience, our opening date has been pushed out 10 months so far. Maybe I’ll feed y’all by the fall. Lastly, we are a husbandwife team. You must have a great relationship, and know how to work together and compromise without conflict of feat. Joe’s amazing that he would do this for me, he’s really a very giving man. More importantly — have faith and trust God.”
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LINDA BLACKMOOR linda blackmoor Linda Blackmoor is the owner of Caledonia Forest, a wildlife conservation center in Dover, Tennessee that’s set to open in 2025. In 2021, she opened a store in Clarksville of the same name that’s full of plants and unique home and garden items which is funding the center’s opening. With the ambition to open up a wildlife park in every state, Blackmoor said Tennessee is just the start. Where did the idea for Caledonia Forest come from? “I grew a love for the forest and nature throughout my childhood. It was my escape from the harsh reality of life, and my favorite place in the world for some reason is Scotland. I feel my soul is connected to it. Caledonia is actually the old world name for Scotland, and even though it is stunning now as it is, the land is completely barren. It used to be full of so many old world forests that were stripped down over the thousands of years. And so now you have the rocky mountains and the stone landscape. Although there is beauty and essence to that, much of the wildlife like the bears, the wolves, and the lynx all went completely extinct. To me, that feels like a representation of what could happen here if we don’t slow down and make conscious decisions like when we’re building homes. I want to teach people when we’re building homes and communities to live in nature and not outside of it. That’s the heart of it, is getting people to value nature and the forest before we strip it down to the point to where, like in Scotland, we’re scrambling to figure out how to fix it. That’s the mission of Caledonia Forest.” What has the process looked like to getting Caledonia Forest off the ground? “I came from homelessness. I got into real estate and I got lucky. I opened an online marketing firm for real estate agents, and it became pretty successful. I was very blessed with that, but I burned out because it wasn’t a passion of mine. I’ve always wanted to work with animals, and I actually went to college for it, but I didn’t graduate because the income to get into that field is very low but the demand is very high. It’s pretty full circle, because I then used the money from that marketing firm and decided to open up Caledonia. Everything up until this point has been self-funded to get it off the ground, but this is not something I can afford to do alone for the rest of my life. So it’s important to not only involve the community in the financial aspect, but just to even change people’s mindsets. I really want to start working with government officials and changing laws for real estate developers, so whenever they go to build a new neighborhood, there’s dedicated green spaces for the wildlife.”
I just have this fire in me to grow so quickly and so big and make a difference in the world. I didn’t feel like I could take those steps and leaps and bounds that I wanted to and go as fast as I want to working under someone else. But I’ve opened up a variety of businesses that I’ve failed at before the marketing firm came around, and I don’t know what necessarily it is, but I just have a fire inside of me and I think that fire is what kept me going through my childhood. I’m a believer in magic, not in the silly sense, but in the sense that we can create it and we get so stuck in routine as adults and we get so stuck in the fears of paying bills on time and that holds society back. I’m just trying to get out of this shell that society creates for everybody and go out there and do something. I want to see if it works, and if people are passionate about the heart of it, then that’s all the better.” How do you feel like your life experiences prepared you for where you are now? “I think it made me a stronger person. I can look back at my past and know I survived everything I survived. At this point, if that couldn’t break me, then nothing else can. A part of that too was going through abuse, and so much of it was mental abuse. You go though people telling you you’ll never amount to anything, or you’ll never become something. There’s that drive and that fire in me to prove that wrong. Not only to become something, but to go on and change the world for the better and make a difference. Life has hardened me a lot faster than most people, but thankfully instead of crumbling within, it just fueled me. I’ve been at the bottom — I survived at the bottom — so even if I return to the bottom, I know I’ll be fine.” What would be your advice to those looking to open their own business? “I know it’s too easy of an answer but just do it. I know too many people that sit around and they think of all the pitfalls and all the things that will go wrong. They think about all the judgement they could receive, and we have people attack us on our Facebook page and things like that, but I think we need to get out of our own heads and our own insecurities. Fear holds everybody back — fear of judgement, fear of failure. But if you fail, just fail because it’s still a learning experience. A lot of celebrities preach in that direction too about how many no’s they received before they got their yes. People need to reshape their mindset to where they know if they fail at something, they are not a failure. That’s a learning moment. It doesn’t matter if you fail a thousand times, that’s a thousand learning experiences about what not to do so you know what to do moving forward.”
What was it it that made you want to become a business owner? “I’ve always felt like I belong in nature, especially with my career choices.
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ROBERTA roberta MORTON morton Roberta Morton is the owner of Mane Control Hair Care, LLC, a speciality salon in Clarksville focused on hair maintenance and treating hair loss. As a certified hair loss practitioner, Morton’s offerings are continually evolving to help her clients look and feel their very best. She is originally from the DMV area, married with two children, and will be celebrating her Mane Control Hair Care’s one year anniversary in Clarksville on Aug. 5. What is the history of your business? “Mane Control started 11 years ago. I revamped the business after moving here from Maryland. I didn’t know I had a passion for doing hair. I was in a 9 to 5 job for six and a half years, and then I got fired. I always loved to do my own hair, I did my friends’ hair, but it wasn’t a passion of mine. So I ended up going to hair school because I wanted to try it out. And, here I am. Mane Control was stagnant for about five to seven years out of the 11, because I didn’t know which way I was going. I was just making money and then I kind of revamped myself. People kept saying, ‘You’re helping my hair grow,’ and I was like okay, so I have a niche with helping hair regrow, so I revamped into Mane Control Hair Care, and that’s how it came about. It was trial and error honestly, and sticking with it through consistency.” What keeps you motivated as an entrepreneur? “Revamping — I’ve never been the type to want to be stagnant, and like I said, I was stagnant for about six or seven years and I didn’t like it. That’s because I was confused about which direction I wanted to take the business. I’m constantly thinking of new ways to either promote Mane Control Hair Care or seek out ways where Mane Control Hair Care can collaborate with other businesses and nonprofit programs. That process of being stagnant back then, I don’t ever want to go that way again. I want to be in a state of constant progress, whatever that is. I would love to become a figure in the community and be known as one of the best hair care specialists, hair care line developers, and the best for hair loss restorations.” What are some misconceptions you think people have about what it’s like to own a business? “That you will have immediate success. The misconception is that you get into the business, and just because you have an awesome skill that you think no one else has, that in six months to a year you are going to hit the ultimate level. That doesn’t happen. It still takes the average
person about 10 years to be seen. That’s the real misconception, that you’re going to blow up and make a ton of money. The first couple of years, you are just trying to stay afloat until you understand how the numbers will work in your favor. Knowing how much revenue you need to manage the business and how much you need to pay yourself.” How do you feel like your education and life experiences have prepared you for where you are now? “My foundation started at New Creations Academy of Hair Design in Hillcrest Heights, Maryland. This school instilled a lot of hair care knowledge and the eternal workings of the hair which I have retained and still utilize on my clients today. As for life experiences, it was all trial and error. That first year in my cosmetology journey while at a 50/50 commission salon is where I learned a lot through trial and error. I did it old school. I would go and pass out flyers and things like that, but for me, I didn’t put in the dedication to actually be there 12 hours a day as opposed to eight hours. I didn’t have that push as an entrepreneur — I was just starting out and didn’t understand that you have to be there 12 hours a day in order for you to build something, so not understanding that part was an error in itself. The amount of time it takes was definitely a huge lesson. Initially, working 12 hours was a pain because I felt like I was neglecting my husband and children. At that time, I had a one year old and a six year old. Trying to work those hours with two kids was definitely a pain but it was something I had to adapt to eventually. As my children got older, my worries became better. My husband was a great partner and helped me relax in the understanding that we support each other for a common goal.” What is unique about owning a business in your industry? “Well, my business as a hair care specialist, hair care line developer, and hair loss practitioner will always be a necessity. Everyone needs to be glammed up one way or another if it’s not just for yourself personally, or maintenance, or a wedding. It’s not going away — someone is going to need that. Coming here, it was brought to my attention that a lot of people didn’t know how to care for their hair and I was shocked by that. Just even the basics. My business is unique because I provide quality service and hair care products at an affordable price. I have a six month hair loss program that allows you to pay on a weekly basis to make it more affordable to accomplish your hair loss goals, and finally my hair care line is derived from all natural ingredients designed to stimulate hair follicles for hair growth, give maximum hydration and protection.”
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alana A LA N A ward WARD Alana Ward is the owner of Baggett Heating & Cooling, a local HVAC repair company that’s been in operation for over 40 years. She took over the business from her father in 2002, making this year her 20th at the helm of the company. She’s originally from the Cunningham area in Montgomery County, is married, and has one daughter. What is the history of your business? “Our company was started by Paul Baggett, and he and my dad got to know each other in the early 80s. At some point, my dad bought the business out from Paul, and so that’s where the name comes from. My dad’s name is Allen Owen, and he ran the business throughout the 90s and early 2000s. I graduated from Middle Tennessee State University in 2001 and still didn’t quite know what I wanted to do when I grew up. I had a political science degree, which on the one hand probably prepares you for nothing specific yet probably anything. I had been going to school full-time and my dad said, ‘Hey, I need a bookkeeper. Why don’t you come in for the summer and do that and then you can decide at the end of the summer what your next steps are.’ So I said OK. I also did a little temporary work at another place with a friend of mine, and then applied for a job at the Opryland Hotel. I got that job, but I didn’t have a start date yet. In the meantime, I had an opportunity to go to Europe with my dad on a work trip. We were supposed to come home from London on Sept. 12, 2001. We were in London when 9/11 happened so I didn’t get back until Sept. 17, and found out pretty soon after that my job at the Opryland Hotel was no longer. Everything shutdown, and the job was on the events side of things so I would be putting together conventions and things like that. That just came to a screeching halt so I decided to stay with my dad’s company and I just never left.” What were some challenges you faced? When I took over the business, it was not stable. In fact, it was failing. I mean I was 23 when I took over, and no offense to all the 23-year-olds out there, but I didn’t know anything about life, much less about how to run a business, and much less about how an air conditioner worked. I became the general manager in 2002, I didn’t become the owner until 2006, but I was the acting owner between 2002 and 2006 with zero qualifications. It was hard, I mean there were a lot of really hard times with asking where is the money coming from and how do I do these things. I’m very proud of the fact that I was able to dig it out, make it successful, and make it something that if my daughter decides this is something she wants to do, then she may take over. It’s the job that I never knew I always wanted. I love being a business owner, it has its own unique challenges for sure but I love being able to help people solve problems.“
What are some misconceptions you think people have about what it’s like to own and run your own business? “It must be great to be your own boss. You’re right, I don’t have one boss — I have hundreds. I have nine that work in this company, and then I have hundreds of customers. So it’s true that I can shape and mold and steer in the direction I want to go in, but to say that I have no one to answer to is the furthest thing from the truth.“ How do you feel like your education and life experiences prepared you for where you are right now? “My education taught me how to research, to know where to find things. It taught me how to study and specifically the political science part of my education taught me about many more different view points than my rearing had given me. I’m from Cunningham, my family is all local. You grow up in a pretty small nucleus, and I mean it’s not like I went hundreds of miles away. I went to UT Martin for two years and then MTSU for two years. I didn’t go all that far, but certainly there were a lot of people in those classrooms that came from different backgrounds than I did, and when you start having political conversations about things, you just get a lot of different viewpoints. That opened me up, and informed me that there’s a lot of different ways to look at things. As a business owner, you have to be able to take a situation and look at it from a lot of different angles.” What would be your advice someone looking to go into business for themselves? “The most important thing you can do is to surround yourself with other people who are better than you are. Identify your strengths, and more importantly, your weaknesses. Then find people who can support you where your weaknesses are their strengths and vice versa. That’s important for within your own organization. Then outside of your organization, find your circle. Find mentors that have been in your industry or maybe in a different industry. You would need both, and in my case, I’m also a mother, so I wish that I could have found me or someone like me when I was having a baby and that person already had a child and had done what I did so they could say, ‘Hey, here are the challenges you’re going to run into and how you juggle that.’ Things change all the time, but there are certainly some foundational things that don’t. I’m a big believer in work smarter, not harder. And listen — listen to those people who have been there before you. Check your pride and listen.”
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DON’T DOUBT DOWNTOWN • 5
Alex & Priscilla Hawkins
Angela & Matt Edwards
Annie & Mat Lasater
Barbara Ciavarella & Candace Sample
Story & Photography by Tony Centonze Braylin Barnett & Susan Whetro
Catherine Meeks & James Bagby
The fifth annual Hog Roast Hootenanny fundraiser was held at the Food Initiative farm on Sango Road. “This is the most tickets we’ve ever sold. The Deltaz are back for music, and we roasted a whole hog that was 212 pounds when we put it on the pit,” Regina Hampton, Food Initiative’s program director, said. “Food Initiative has two main goals. The first is to provide education to kids about the food system, and connecting food and health. The Second is our HRO (Hunger Relief Organization) Garden. Things we harvest from the garden go to Manna Café and Loaves and Fishes every summer,” Hampton continued. The Food Initiative still takes summer volunteers and runs its TED (Think, Eat, Do) program. Find out more at www.thefoodinitiative.org, also on Facebook and Instagram.
Christian & Caelynn Syner
Dale & Briana Sakuma
Ed Bryan & Ken Hampton
Elizabeth & Dena Sinclair
Jackie Claud & Regina Hampton
Margaret Hampton & Moriah MacDermott
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Sammie Gonzalez & Mia Alexander
Brandi Beard & Dale Hambrick
Tyler Herning & Jeff Gullion
Jay & Diana Hall
Casey & Kristin Dawes
Darrell & Georgia Bray
Story & Photography by Tony Centonze Oak Grove Gaming, Racing & Hotel hosted the fourth installment of its popular Bourbon & Boxing fight series, featuring fighters from Tri-Star Boxing. Fans of Austin Dulay, a.k.a. “The Dream,” and the “Fighting Pride of the 615” flocked to the event, which was sponsored in part by Love Blood Ink Custom Tattoo. Oak Grove Gaming, Racing & Hotel will be hosting the fifth installment of the series on Saturday, August 28th.
Dominique & Cory Lenker
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Emily Huang & Charlie Whisenhunt
Chris & Matt Capps
Jessica Cuzick & Luke Hargrave
Johnny & Page Dickson
Jordan Deschamp & Bayleigh Chandler
Virginia & John Harvey
Take your senses on a culinary journey and savor the finest of flavors at our signature steakhouse, Garrison Oak. Crave-worthy fare, an elegant atmosphere and impeccable service all come together to create an exceptional dining experience that’s perfect for any occasion.
Weekday
DINNER DEALS WEDNESDAYS & THURSDAYS IN JULY SAVOR A THREE-COURSE MEAL STARTING AT JUST $35 PER PERSON! Erik Hammock, Klint Harvey, Matt Young, Alan Belcher & James Payne
Lazar Bean & Lawrence Burns
Quentin & Carla Martin
VISIT OAKGROVEGAMING.COM FOR RESERVATIONS AND MORE DETAILS.
OakGroveGaming.com Conveniently located at 777 Winners Way in Oak Grove, KY, just off I-24, Exit 86 across from the Fort Campbell Army Post. James Payne, Alan Belcher & Dan Cahill
Must be 21 to enter the gaming floor. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER.
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Travis Electrical Service is humbled to be part of the Clarksville & Fort Campbell communities. We are deeply grateful for our service members and their families. To show our gratitude for the brave men and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice, we are proud to unveil our Folds of Honor truck. A portion of the proceeds generated by this truck’s service will be donated to Folds of Honor, an organization that funds scholarships for the children of service members who have lost their lives. We support the mission of Folds of Honor, which is “Honor their sacrifice. Educate their legacy.” Folds of Honor has a significant presence here in Clarksville, and most of the funds donated from Clarksville stay right here in our community, building up our youth, healing families in our community.
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APSU President, Dr. Michael Licari & Gerald Harrison
Chad Ferrell & Dustin Wallace
Amanda Peterson & Jen Barczykowski
Caroline Cooke & Hannah Alsup
Frank Lott & John Nicholas Story & Photography by Tony Centonze F&M Bank Arena hosted a hard hat tour, which gave members of the media as well as potential partners an opportunity to tour the facility that is expected to open in July 2023. More than 100 people came out to enjoy a light breakfast reception at the corner of First Street and College Street. Danny Butler, vice president and general manager of Ford Ice Centers, announced that Jenkins & Wynne Ford and the Mid-Tennessee Ford Dealers had come on board as sponsors, as well as Joe Maynard and the Maynard Family.
Jack Burk & Jeremy Burson
Charles Hand & John Peck
Yvonne Palacios & Susan Zidek
Jeff Robinson & Senator Bill Powers
After brief remarks by F&M Bank President and CEO Sammy Stuard, Butler, Casey Jenkins, Joe Maynard, and Austin Peay State University Athletics Director Gerald Harrison, and Arena General Manager Kylie Wilkerson invited everyone to join one of the guides for a 30-minute tour of the facility.
Joe Maynard & Dr. Michael Licari
John Dixon & Keith Allen
CELEBRATING APPLETON HARLEY-DAVIDSON’S 70TH ANNIVERSARY • 83
Wil Nance
April Consulo & Mel Sciortino
Bob Tegan
Jamie Floyd
Audrey & Missy Freidline
Story & Photography by Tony Centonze April and Mark Consulo hosted Live on Wilma, an evening of food and music featuring Grammy-nominated songwriters Wil Nance, Jamie Floyd, and Bob Regan. The event, which was the inaugural show in what Consulo called “An Intimate Concert Series” was sold out. Guests enjoyed food that was prepared and served by Simply Catering by Lisa, at the Frances Lee Event Center, located inside OfficeNOW on Wilma Rudolph Boulevard. Nance earned his first number one song on country radio with George Strait’s “Round Aabout Way.” Singer-songwriter Floyd has written for Kelly Clarkson, Kesha, Miranda Lambert, Sturgill Simpson, and countless others. Regan is Grammy and Dove Award-nominated. He is also the founder of Operation Song.
Crystal Coghill & Mark Consulo
Adam & Chas Wahl
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MG Jeff Holmes, Hunter Hayes, President Michael Licari & MG Walt Lord
Captain Gregg Murphy & Greg Lane
Bill Persinger & Bill Harpel Story & Photography by Tony Centonze Austin Peay State University held a Military & Veteran Graduate Recognition Ceremony in the ballroom at the Morgan University Center. The ceremony honors graduating active duty and military veteran students. During the All Hail to Those Who Served portion of the ceremony, graduates are presented with a special military coin and military cords. APSU President Dr. Michael Licari was joined by Clarksville Mayor Joe Pitts and other dignitaries for the afternoon ceremony. Maj. Gen. Jeff Holmes was this year’s guest speaker.
Christopher Cordero & Ka’dondre Crawford
Chelsea Grant & Riley Walsh
Jack Turner, BG Scott Brower & Bill Persinger 86 • VIP CLARKSVILLE MAGAZINE
Adam Maslowsky & Michael Ledbetter
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apsu.edu/visit Austin Peay State University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, disability, age, status as a protected veteran, genetic information, or any other legally protected class with respect to all employment, programs and activities sponsored by APSU. Policy 6:001
CELEBRATING APPLETON HARLEY-DAVIDSON’S 70TH ANNIVERSARY • 87
Story & Photography by Tony Centonze Clarksville Christian School recently hosted its 15th annual CCS Centurion Invitational Golf Tournament at the Clarksville Country Club. “This is our 15th annual golf tournament, and I believe we have 15 fourman teams signed up for this year’s scramble,” Stephanie Travis, the school’s community relations director, said. “We even have some students out here playing with us today. CCS will use the funds raised for all kinds of things: scholarships and many of our programs.”
Chris & Stephanie Travis
Carson Ullrich & Hunter Richardson
Al Martinez & Freddie Garza
Charlie & Emily Collins
Catherine & Will Thomas
Cody Smith
Dr. Brad Moser & Stephanie Travis
Jayson Rivas & Jeff Denault
“Money raised here goes into the general fund, which actually benefits all CCS programs. One of the things we offer is tuition assistance. We want to make sure that the kiddos who want to be here are able to come.”
Georgie Stimson, Kristin Dickerson & Thea Moser
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Abby & Eugene Leo
Andre & Kaliyah Thomas
Abigail & Joseph Murray
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Alexis & Brian Hackett
Andrew & Reagan Arms
Story & Photography by Tony Centonze Nearly 400 dads and daughters came out for this year’s Father-Daughter Date Night at the Wilma Rudolph Event Center for an evening of music, dancing, food, and fun. The event was billed as, “a perfect place for fathers, uncles, grandfathers, and positive role-models of all kinds to enjoy an evening with their special girls.” This year’s event, sponsored by Altra Federal Credit Union, featured numerous games, hula hoop challenges, balloon animals, a photo booth, and much more.
Bubba & Jenna Imbush
Anthony & Aurora Rodriguez
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Ali Tucker & Christina Joslyn
Juan & Jackie Barocio
Carla & Greg Gibbs
Chas Wahl & Daniel Knight
Becca Macpherson, Oaklie & Sherry Nicholson
Anna Brown & Ashlee Ragsdale
Story & Photography by Tony Centonze The Clarksville Scavenger Hunt took place at Downtown Commons recently, featuring dozens of local vendors, food trucks, and a variety of games and activities for all ages. Guests were invited for a fun-filled Saturday in downtown Clarksville, celebrating and supporting this community’s local businesses. Those who filled their passports with stamps from the local businesses on site were eligible to win prizes later in the day.
Beth Pounds & Cooper
Copper & Sariah Glenn
The event was free. Food and drinks were available for purchase. Hundreds came out to meet the faces behind local businesses, participate in the games and activities, grab a drink from one of our local breweries, or enjoy some live entertainment.
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