Morris Holleman
Owner of Holleman Trucking & Excavating, Holleman Farms
Morris enjoys spending time with his family. He has two kids, 19 and 15, who keep him busy—one is away at college, and the other you’ll often find Morris running to horseback riding lessons and volleyball. Morris also enjoys finding time to hunt when he can. It’s a lot to juggle, running multiple businesses, but he says everything is possible because of the employee support and relationships: “…we would be nothing without them.”
He’s passionate about providing for Gallatin and serving the people who live here. He says, “The Gallatin community means a lot to me because I was born and raised here and am raising my family here. I hope to continue to serve this community, whether it be on the construction side or providing the beef we raise.” In addition to his businesses, he supports local sports programs, youth groups, and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. It’s his heart for his hometown that can be felt in the intentionality of each of his contributions and offerings.
Morris attributes his success and influence to the support of family, mentors, employees, and, above all, God. To him, success and influence are a team sport—they don’t happen in isolation. It’s the people around you that support and encourage you—your community—that matter and contribute just as much to your accomplishments. That’s why he views being a team player as an integral part of being a success. “I am only as successful as those around me. I am very thankful for everyone who has supported and encouraged me along the way.”
His people-first approach carries over to some of the greatest lessons he’s learned along the way. He says building trust is a key component to being successful in life. He also encourages being proactive, showing integrity, and being consistent—qualities that build and maintain a good reputation. Relationships are powerful assets, as evidenced by his belief that you’re only as successful as the people around you. That’s why he also says networking should be a priority on your list. A strong support system can go a long way.
Morris contributes to the Gallatin community in rich and significant ways. How he hopes people remember him? As someone who was honest, loyal, and always willing to go the extra mile for people.
Taylor Milliken
CEO of Milosi
Taylor’s days are spent with family or working on one of the many projects with his growing company. He’s the husband of Sam and a father of three children: Gunnar, Scout, and Remi. He’s often running his kids to soccer, basketball, flag football, and dance. He also volunteers with his church’s kids ministry, LifeKids. In his free time, he trains for triathlons or takes his kids hunting and fishing.
As a lifelong resident of Gallatin, he wants to serve the community in meaningful ways. “I'm hopeful that the real estate that I'm involved in improves the lives and businesses, and the projects my companies build add beauty to our community and a sense of togetherness.”
His definition of success and influence has changed over time. While he values setting goals and working hard to achieve them, he recognizes the importance of finding balance. “There was a time period when my kids were young that I was working an unhealthy amount of hours. I had a bit of a wake-up call that helped me focus on my time with my family. I'm still very goal and success oriented, but it's changed more towards me being able to spend time with my wife, traveling, and time with my family, coaching and helping them succeed in their goals.”
One of the greatest lessons he’s learned and wants others to know is the importance of doing work you love with people you enjoy. As a leader, he’s learned it’s better to make changes when you notice negative behaviors in the workplace rather than tolerating them out of fear. “When I grew the courage to make a change, the fun in the workplace returned, and everything got better.” When it comes to finding work you’re passionate about, he says, “Doing what you love can be the career and/or the position in the company you work at or even own. It's so true that life is just too short to remain doing something for too long that you don't enjoy.”
Taylor is an influential community leader, but above all, he hopes he’s remembered as being a good dad. “I think being a good dad means so much in life. It's not all about the things you give. Parenting means so much more.” It’s “helping shape the world's future.”
Clay Curtis
Managing Partner at Curtis Construction
Life is full for Clay. When he’s not working on construction projects, he enjoys spending time with his wife, Jodi, and their two children: Reese (18) and Anderson (15).
Clay stays connected with the local community through his role on the board of the Gallatin Chamber of Commerce and his membership with Forward Sumner. He’s also involved with organizations such as the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Habitat for Humanity, and others. “Those experiences keep you grounded in what people in this community actually need.”
He’s contributed to many local building projects, but one that’s meant a lot is the Gallatin Public Library. “It was one of the first jobs where I had a major role, and I remember standing at the grand opening holding my daughter, Reese, as a newborn…Years down the road, she ended up working there for two years in high school. Seeing her walk into a place we helped build—right in the heart of downtown—and make it part of her own story…that’s something I’ll never forget. It’s one of those moments that reminds you this work is about more than buildings. It’s about creating places that become part of people’s lives.
“…I hope the work we’re involved in reflects that. Not just projects that fill space, but ones that serve people, last over time, and quietly become part of the community’s story.”
Success and influence used to mean checking boxes and seeing business growth. He believes those are important for running a healthy business, but he now thinks you’re successful if you’ve built trust with people. As for influence? He says, “If people value your perspective because you’ve shown up consistently and done right by them, that’s real influence.”
One of the greatest lessons he’s learned is about ownership. “You don’t have to have all the answers—you just need to be honest and willing to figure things out. A lot of problems get worse because people try to hide them, spin them, or pretend they’re not there…Clear communication, owning mistakes, and staying steady under pressure will take you a long way.”
He hopes he’s remembered as someone people could trust and who always treated people fairly because, “At the end of the day, the projects matter, but the way you handle people is what really sticks.”