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For those interested in starting or expanding

their business.

Get to Know the Speakers

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Talia Bateman

As a professional Sales and Leadership Coach for Southwestern Consulting, Talia has a passion for developing sales professionals and leaders to their full potential. She believes that coaching can foster the personal and professional growth we need to reach our goals and build a life we love. With her people-first approach to business, Talia believes personal connections are essential for creating opportunities and growth.

Talia has a background in direct selling and has consistently ranked in the Top 1% of her company for the last nine years. She has recruited and led over 9,000 people to succeed effectively and ethically in a direct sales environment.

Talia has received numerous awards over the years that include but are not limited to:
• Grew an organization’s retail sales from $0-$40 million.
• Millionaire Award Recipient.
• Featured in “THRIVIN” magazine.

Prior to this experience, she taught music at various levels for schools in the United States and English to students in South Korea. She is well traveled, well versed and always looking to help those around her.

Talia is also a certified Health and Life Coach and enjoys serving as City Ambassador for a local and high-energy networking organization for professionals. She brings a multi-dimensional approach that couples business coaching with health and life best practices to create the ideal balance.

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Sarah Whitaker

Sarah Whitaker is the owner of Williams Advertising, a full-service marketing agency that also specializes in creating branded merchandise, promotional products and apparel.  

Sarah and her team help small businesses and organizations grow by creating and implementing marketing strategies that align with business goals. The Branded division of Williams Advertising designs and produces branded merchandise for businesses nationwide.

In addition to leading Williams Advertising, Sarah is currently the Chair of the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce Small Business Policy Council. Sarah's previous volunteer roles include serving as President of the Pennyroyal Arts Council, Founding Chair of Hopkinsville Young Professionals Engage, President of Junior Auxiliary of Hopkinsville, and as a board member for the Hopkinsville Convention & Visitors Bureau. In 2019, Sarah was named a top promotional products professional under 40 by Print + Promo Magazine. 

Sarah is a Murray State Racer, earning an undergraduate degree in marketing and a master’s in business administration from Murray State University. Sarah’s favorite titles include mom to daughter Ellery and wife to husband Phillip.

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Chris Wooldridge

Chris serves as an instructor in the Arthur J. Bauernfeind College of Business in the areas of finance, banking and economic development. He also serves as the director of the Center for Economic and Entrepreneurial Development in a regional outreach capacity connecting community and campus seeking to develop student academic learning opportunities, as well as create jobs and wealth to improve the economic conditions in the region.
He managed regional outreachas well as the operations and staff of the two main regional centers to ensure delivery of business consulting services throughout 24 counties of western Kentucky.
 
Mr. Wooldridge is a former entrepreneur with over 25 years of experience in the banking & financial services community as well as over 16 years in business and industry consulting and university outreach.  
Eric Coleman

Eric D. Coleman

Eric D. Coleman is a retired business executive with over 25 years of corporate experience in engineering, sales, marketing, business development and general management. He has over 25 years of experience as an entrepreneur.

He earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in engineering from the University of Kentucky and the Georgia Institute of Technology, and a Master of Business Administration degree from Northwood University. He also has an Honorary Doctor of Laws degree from West Virginia State University. Eric and EDC Financial have been in partnership with Planters Bank for its a Wealth Builder program since April 2021.

Eric has been married to his wife and business partner, Joan W. Coleman, for 26 years. They have two adult sons – Johnnie and Eric Christopher.

Small Business Panelists

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Hal McCoy

McCoy Properties

Hal McCoy is a prominent businessman and commercial property owner based in Hopkinsville, Kentucky. While having developed numerous properties across Kentucky and several other states, his visionary passion has been focused on his local community. He is a catalyst, advocate, and significant contributor to the revitalization of downtown Hopkinsville through the restoration of historic properties. Notably, he transformed the former JC Penney building located at Eighth and Main Streets into his family’s residence, as well as restoring the former Young Hardware building into The Mixer restaurant. His most recent transformation was a former automobile repair shop which is now a restaurant specializing in Neapolitan pizzas called The Crusty Pig.

In September 2021, Governor Andy Beshear appointed McCoy to the Hopkinsville and Christian County Land Bank Authority. This organization focuses on acquiring and demolishing tax-delinquent, inner-city properties to repurpose the lots for new housing, economic development, and recreational spaces. McCoy’s term on the authority extends through August 31, 2025.

 

McCoy is married to Elizabeth McCoy, CEO of Planters Bank, who is a notable figure in Kentucky’s banking sector.  They have one son, Griffin, who is a senior at University Heights Academy.

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Graham & Heather Dawson

The Mixer

Graham and Heather Dawson have both been in the food industry for over 18 years. Heather worked in LA in the catering industry for 2 years and was a part of serving at many large events including the Emmys. She then worked at Harper House, several bakery’s, and ran the Governor’s Gala event in Frankfort for 5 years. She also was a sales manager at Clean Air Technology Solutions for 7 years. Graham Dawson started working with his mom, Hilarie Dawson, at her cafe downtown in Hopkinsville, “Coffee And…”. He then worked at several restaurants in downtown Hopkinsville including Harper House for 10 years, where he was the bar manager for 7 of those years. He also worked with Heather managing the Governor’s Gala for several years. 
Heather and Graham met at Harper House and not only fell in love with each other, but their passion for the industry and downtown Hopkinsville. The Mixer is a marriage of passions. Though their original plans were for a bakery and cocktail lounge, they needed to expand their concept and business model. So, the concept grew into a restaurant serving homemade pastries, coffee sourced from small independent roasters, handcrafted cocktails and locally sourced products when possible. The Mixer opened in December of 2019 after working 3 years on the concept and bringing the vision to life. Then they expanded The Mixer’s bakery and coffee and opened Baked, a bakery next door to The Mixer. The Mixer has overcome many hurdles brought during the pandemic, inflation and a storm that ripped the top of their building off in March of 2023 shutting them down for 9 months. During these past five years and through all the hardships, it has instilled even more in Heather and Graham their passion for this industry and their community.
 
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Jeff & Sherri Robinson

Blackhorse Pub & Brewery

Jeff and Sherri Robinson are owners of the Blackhorse Pub and Brewery in Clarksville, and have a second Blackhorse Pub & Brewery in Alcoa, Tennessee. Jeff and Sherri are both graduates of the University of Tennessee. They moved to Clarksville when Jeff was stationed at Fort Campbell. When Jeff left the Army, they chose to stay in Clarksville to raise their family and open their business. They have also been active in developing real estate in Clarksville. As partners or, on their own, they have renovated 6 different buildings in downtown, built over 100 residential units in downtown Clarksville and are now developing infill housing near downtown.  

Scaling Your Business Panelists

Bradley Jackson

Bradley Jackson

Byers & Harvey Real Estate & Property Management

With over 8 years of experience in the real estate industry, Bradley Jackson serves as the Operations Director and an Affiliate Tennessee Broker for Byers & Harvey Real Estate & Management. Prior to entering real estate, Bradley spent 11 years in the electric and fiber optic telecommunications industry. His expertise spans investment properties, traditional residential sales, commercial sales, and multi-family sales.
Bradley is deeply passionate about helping people, leveraging his extensive knowledge to guide clients through the real estate process and prevent unnecessary challenges. He values educating clients at every step to ensure their success and satisfaction. In his role as Operations Director, Bradley takes immense pride in contributing to the growth of Byers & Harvey Real Estate & Management, focusing on the behind-the-scenes impact that ultimately improves clients’ lives.
 
Bradley’s career journey also includes a foundational experience working for a company that built and remodeled homes, igniting his passion for property improvement and driving his transition into real estate. His approach to the industry is marked by attention to detail, forward thinking, strategic analysis, and compassion, setting him apart as a trusted professional.
 
Serving primarily in Northern Middle Tennessee and Southern Kentucky, Bradley thrives on building strong, lasting relationships in the communities he serves. Outside of his professional life, he cherishes time with his wife, Ashley, and their children, Tinley and Bennett. Bradley enjoys golfing, hunting, fishing, and spending time with friends, all of which allow him to maintain a balanced and fulfilling lifestyle.
 
With a commitment to strategic growth and evolving with the industry, Bradley Jackson ensures that Byers & Harvey Real Estate & Management remains at the forefront of the real estate market, always focusing on the right solutions for clients.
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Jeff Truitt

ServPro

Originally from Birmingham, Jeff was transplanted to the Clarksville Tennessee area by way of the United States Air Force in 1992 where he went on to serve with the Air Force Special Operations Weather Team (SOWT) supporting various units housed in Ft Campbell, KY.
After serving his time in the Air Force Jeff attended and graduated from Austin Peay State University. Since graduation he has worked as a local restaurant owner, City employee, Montgomery County Government Chief of Staff and Economic Development Committee Chief
Executive Officer before taking his current role as the Executive Vice-President of Operations for one of the largest Servpro teams in the world.
 
Jeff is a Leadership Clarksville graduate, Leadership Middle Tennessee graduate, founding member of the Clarksville Young Professionals, two-time Chamber Military Affairs Chairman, member of the Phi Kappa Phi collegiate honor society and has served on numerous local and
state-wide boards and committees. Jeff will be quick to tell you his greatest accomplishment is his wife of twenty-five years, Kristi, and his 24 year old daughter Macy.
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Chris McEnaney

McDonald's

In 1999, at 10 years old, Chris began working at his parents McDonald’s cleaning Play Places and the lobby. He worked through high school and college. In 2012 Chris graduated from Murray State University with a Bachelor’s degree in Marketing and Management. After graduation, he went to work Full time at McDonald’s in Princeton, KY. After two years of mastering all the Departments, he became the Store manager of the Princeton McDonald’s. In November of 2016, Chris was promoted to supervisor where he managed three restaurants. Since 2015, Chris has worked in roles across all six restaurants in the McEnaney organization. 

Some of Chris’s contributions to the organization include leading MRPs of three locations, developing and promoting two General Managers, having two Outstanding General managers, and one Ray Kroc award winning manager. He is an RFM administrator, OTP3/Technology lead and recognized for being the QSC&V winner at Hamburger University. Chris also was the Mid Manager lead for the Evansville co-op in 2016 and 2017. In 2018, he became an approved McDonald’s Owner Operator and purchased the two locations in Madisonville Kentucky. In 2019, he joined the Ronald McDonald House Charity Board in Evansville, IN. In 2019 he also won the McDonald's Leadership award for the Nashville Field office. In 2020 through February of 2022, he became the Operations lead for the MIKI Co-op (sending info and guidance for 112 McDonalds Restaurants). In 2020 -2022, he hosted an Annual General Manager summit for all 112 McDonalds. In May of 2022, he became the Mid Manager Lead for the Nashville Field Office (about 1,200 McDonalds in the Field office). He lead a Mid Manager summit in Sandestin FL with over 550 participants. He purchased five McDonalds in Owensboro, KY on August 1, 2022. Chris, along with his father Joe, Run and operate 13 McDonalds in the area. 

Chris and his wife Emily met while they were both at Murray State and married in 2013. They have 4 children, Peter (8), Louis (6), Rosemary (4), Johnny (2). Besides McDonald’s and his family, Chris spends his personal time golfing, fishing, playing video games and cheering on St. Louis Sports.

Planters Bank Experts

Schedule a 1:1 Finance Session - Details in Registration

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Ryan Batson: VP Commercial Banking

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Wes Sumner: SVP Commercial Banking

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Landan Stallons: VP Commercial Banking

Katey_Barnett

Katey Barnett: AVP Commercial Banking

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Patrick Wilkinson: VP Commercial Banking

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