2025 Mel Bedwell Small Business Person of the Year Award Luncheon

Join us for the 32nd presentation of the Mel Bedwell Small Businessperson of the Year Award at our annual luncheon presented by Pinnacle Financial Partners on Thursday, May 22 at Museum Center at 5ive Points. 

The Mel Bedwell Small Business Person of the Year Award luncheon 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. 

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.

Our guest speaker will be Dr. Paul Conn, president and chancellor of Lee University. During his administration, the university saw significant growth: enrollment increased from 1000 to over 5000, the physical campus was enlarged substantially, and the school’s reputation as a regional leader was firmly established. Dr. Conn has many accomplishments as noted below. 

EDUCATION: Conn earned the Ph.D. degree in psychology from Emory University in 1974. Subsequently, he has spent three years at Harvard University as a postdoctoral student, studying with Lawrence Kohlberg (1978), David Breneman (1993), Derek Bok (1998), Suarez Orozco (2003), Robert Kegan (2008), and Rick Weissbourd and Nancy Hill (2018). He was a Visiting Scholar at Harvard Divinity School in 1982 and 2023. He did his undergraduate work at Lee College and Georgia State University, and earned a M.A. degree at Emory. 

LEADERSHIP: He has served on the Board of Directors of numerous higher ed organizations, including the Council of Independent Colleges, and chairman of the President’s Council of the Southern States Athletic Conference.  He served six years as a Commissioner of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, including two years on the Executive Committee of the Commission on Colleges. He has served on the Executive Committee of the Appalachian Colleges Association, on the board of the Tennessee Independent Colleges and Universities Association, and on the national board of the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities. Conn served 9 years (2015-2024) on the Board of Commissioners for the Chattanooga Airport Authority.
 
AWARDS: In 2001 Conn was the recipient of the M.C. Headrick Award, given by the Chamber of Commerce annually to the most outstanding CEO in the Cleveland/Bradley community; it was the first time the award has been given to a not-for-profit CEO. He also received the 1996 Otis Floyd Award from the Tennessee College Public Relations Association, given to the most outstanding higher education executive in Tennessee, and the 2019 Varnell Award given by the Chamber of Commerce for outstanding community service, and numerous other honors.

ACADEMIC EXPERIENCE: Conn joined the Lee College faculty as an instructor in 1971 and currently holds the rank of Distinguished Professor of Psychology. He has served continuously at the same institution, except when engaging in postdoctoral study and summer appointments. As president, he regularly teaches one undergraduate psychology course each year at Lee.

PERSONAL: Conn is married to Darlia McLuhan; together they have three children and ten grandchildren.  

THE UNIVERSITY: Lee University is a masters-level university in Cleveland Tennessee. Its 5300 students make it the largest private college or university in East Tennessee. It serves students from all 50 states and 53 countries, offering 49 academic majors.

We are excited to hear Dr. Conn speak on Lee University's impact on the Cleveland business community and the impact of future endeavors of the university. 

Members who would like to use available admission credits should call the Chamber office at 423-472-6587 to register.