2017 Mel Bedwell Small Business Person of the Year Award Luncheon

 The Mel Bedwell Small Business Person of the Year Award luncheon, presented by Pinnacle Bank, honors an outstanding small business person in Cleveland and Bradley County for their success in six areas: staying power, growth in number of employees, increase in sales, innovativeness of product or service offered, response to adversity, and evidence of contributions to the community. This annual event, sponsored by the Small Business Committee of the Cleveland/Bradley Chamber of Commerce, will take place at the Museum Center at 5ive Points on Monday, May 1.

The year's keynote speaker will be Charlie Brock. Brock is president and CEO of Launch Tennessee, a statewide public-private entity charged with developing Tennessee’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. During his four years as CEO, the organization has developed and implemented many new initiatives to bolster the state’s standing as a great place for entrepreneurs, innovators and investors. Primary among these are the 36|86 conference, the TENN master accelerator program, the Angel Tax Credit and the Creative Communities grant program. The state has achieved record levels of early stage capital investment each of the past two years, and the unique statewide network of entrepreneur centers supported by Launch Tennessee serves nearly 2,000 entrepreneurs each year, hosts over 450 events and serves as a catalyst for high-growth startups.
 
Prior to Launch Tennessee, Brock served as CEO of CO.LAB, the Chattanooga entrepreneur center that runs the GIGTANK accelerator program and is part of the Launch Tennessee network. Brock is a founding general partner of the Chattanooga Renaissance Fund, Chattanooga’s first organized angel group, and was an early partner in FourBridges Capital Advisors, a lower-middle market investment bank. Kicking off his entrepreneurial journey, Brock helped establish Foxmark Media in 1998 and served as CEO before selling the company in 2006 to an Australian-based media company.  
 
Brock serves on several business as well as philanthropic boards with a particular emphasis on education and increasing opportunities for those in underserved areas.
 
Heand his wife, Lisa, are the parents of three daughters, Lesley, Taylor and Laura.

The Chamber board of directors renamed the Small Business Person of the Year Award to honor the memory of Mel Bedwell, who was known for his energy, determination, ingenuity, honesty, enthusiasm and loyalty—all traits necessary for a successful small business owner. Bedwell was an owner with Jack Smith of Cleveland Business Machines. 

An integral aspect of this event is the opportunity for Chamber members to have a tabletop business display to showcase their services and products to fellow Chamber members. A limited number of tables are available, so members are encouraged to reserve their table early. Each display registration provides one luncheon ticket.