TEDC Board Meeting Minutes

Members present:  Kyle Spurgeon, Mark Herbison, Doug Lawyer, Kim Denton, Walt Wood, Marco Oliveri, Holly Holt, Lizbeth Gray, Paul LaGrange,.  Also attending was Suzie Lusk.

The meeting was called to order at 3:00 PM EST by Spurgeon. 

The minutes from the previous meeting were reviewed.   Denton made a motion to accept the minutes which was seconded by Herbison.  The motion passed.

The board reviewed the applications submitted for the TEDC Volunteer of the Year.   There were three applications submitted:  Jack Bovender, CEO of Healthcare of America, John Hassmiller, Director of Human Resources for Bridgeston/Firestone in La Vergne, and finally Gary Shorb, President/CEO of Methodist LeBonheur Healthcare.    The board voted on a winner, which will be announced at the TEDC fall conference in Memphis.

Herbison gave an update to the Board on the progress of the Fall Conference scheduled for September 14-16 in Memphis at the Peabody Hotel.    He is working on a VIP tour of Graceland as well as a midnight tour of the Fed Ex facility.    Herbison briefed the Board on the slate of speakers for the fall conference – adding a TEP briefing to the agenda.

Oliveri brought up the subject of the SEDC Community Economic Development Award (CEDA).    In summary, SEDC is looking to begin recognizing communities for their economic development efforts and programs, and is looking to all the State organizations to support this new concept. .   This new proposed SEDC award would replace the SEDC Volunteer Award.     Oliveri noted that other states in the southeast seem to favor this transition and it would not preclude TEDC from still doing our own Vol of the year award.  

A motion was made by Oliveri that TEDC would adopt SEDC’s Community Economic Development Award which was seconded by Gray.    The motion passed.   Oliveri will notify Gene Stenson with SEDC of TEDC’s support of this effort.

Regarding the relationship between TEDC and ECD, Spurgeon informed the board that he and LaGrange have been unable to connect to discuss some of the ideas which were generated at the TEDC Board retreat.

Regarding TEDC visibility, Spurgeon discussed our need as an organization to send out more information to our members.   The TEDC newsletter will be mailed out to members, where in recent history – the newsletter has only been available on the TEDC website.   The discussion focused around having a hard copy to hand off to other folks is an excellent recruitment tool.     Also, it was discussed that all TEDC board minutes will be distributed by an email link to the TEDC website.  

Spurgeon brought to the Board a proposal submitted by Younger and Associates regarding TEDC sponsorship development.   After much discussion, it was decided that  The Board will form a separate committee to draft up a short RFP for the items which we are seeking:  4 newsletters a year, TEDC directory, website maintenance and updates, and periodic press releases.   It was decided that Denton and Holt would draft up an RFP to be reviewed and tweaked by the TEDC Board in October.   It was hoped that a firm from each grand division would submit a bid. 

There was a great deal of discussion about TEDC conference sponsorships and the fact that for the past few years, sponsorship dollars have slipped.    It was agreed that the process needed strengthened.    At this time, it was requested that Mrs. Lusk hang up from the conference call and dial back in five minutes.  It was discussed that Suzie Lusk has incredible knowledge of the TEDC membership and excellent personal relations with all TEDC members.   A motion was made by Herbison that starting August 17, 2005, Suzie Lusk be compensated 15% of TEDC sponsorship dollars which she personally brings in.  The motion was seconded by Denton and was passed unanimously. 

LaGrange informed the TEDC Board that a lunch with Commissioner Kisber and all Assistant Commissioners has been scheduled for TEDC Board members during the Governor’s Conference on August 31 at noon at the Nashville City Club. 

The TEDC Day on the Hill was discussed and Oliveri briefed the Board on its status.   TEDC will still be doing the pocket card of issues.  It was suggested that TEDC poll members on issues that are of concern to see if there is consensus of legislative items besides those issues that ECD is working.   These issues will be collected, reviewed and approved by Board prior to publication.

In other business, Lawyer brought up the issue of Conference sponsors and the fact that there needs to be a look into what companies get for their sponsorship dollars.    In the short term, starting with the Memphis conference, a scrolling PowerPoint will be in the meeting room with sponsor logos and information.   Also, particular sponsors will be allowed a short “commercial” prior to the meeting agenda item to inform TEDC members in attendance at the conference of their business.

The next TEDC Board meeting will be Monday August 29 from 3-5 PM at ECD’s offices in Nashville.

With no other business, Oliveri made a motion which was seconded by Lawyer to adjourn.  The meeting adjourned at 4:12 PM EST.