In Lebanon, leadership doesn’t always come with a podium or spotlight. Sometimes, it looks like an early morning gym session, sweeping the sidewalk outside your shop, or coaching a tee-ball game after a full day at work. The men featured in this issue embody a quiet kind of influence—rooted in service, shaped by community, and powered by purpose.
From the exam rooms at Gregory Dental Group to the counters of Buckeye Drugs, from university offices to jewelry cases and nonprofit boardrooms, these professionals are as grounded as they are driven. They’re small business owners, educators, healthcare providers, and changemakers who believe in the long game—showing up, staying committed, and making room for others to rise.
Their days are long and often layered with responsibility: managing teams, mentoring youth, finding time for family, and navigating the ever-evolving needs of the people they serve. But what sets them apart isn’t just their titles or talents—it’s how they lead with intention. For them, success isn’t measured in sales or status, but in trust earned, relationships built, and lives impacted.
Faith plays a central role for many, as does a deep commitment to personal growth. Whether they’re pushing through setbacks, celebrating small wins, or simply trying to be better than yesterday, each man brings a sense of authenticity to his work and home life.
They don’t just live in Lebanon—they shape it. Not with fanfare, but with presence. Not by asking what the community can do for them, but by quietly asking how they can do more for others.
This is what leadership looks like in Lebanon. And these are some of the men who make it matter.
DeJeay Woods
Assistant Vice President – Loan Officer, Wilson Bank & Trust
With a schedule full of school drop-offs, coaching youth sports, and loan approvals, DeJeay finds balance through service and perspective. Whether helping a client finance a dream home or cheering on the 4U T-ballers he coaches, Woods is all in. “There’s nothing typical about my day,” he says, juggling responsibilities at home with Linley, Calloway, and Rook, and at work where he specializes in small business and consumer lending. Beyond the office, Woods is committed to community involvement—from serving as Vice Chair of Education with the Chamber of Commerce to supporting local schools through Everyone’s Wilson.
The legacy he hopes to leave? “To be good and faithful servants.” It’s a value that guides how he leads and learns—especially from failure. “Don’t focus so much on the successes or failures but on the experience itself,” he says. “Experience is what we get when we don’t get what we want.”
On tough days, inspiration comes in the form of three little voices shouting “Daddy!” when he walks through the door. Recently, a “small win” at home came when his kids discovered Michael Jordan—through a Christmas shirt and an impromptu viewing of Space Jam. “They now both know who the greatest basketball player of all time is,” he jokes, a proud sports dad passing down more than just stats.
Derrick Gregory
General and Cosmetic Dentist, Gregory Dental Group, PLLC
Derrick starts his day navigating school drop-offs, caffeine in hand, before seeing 30 to 40 patients at his Lebanon practice. Between exams, treatments, and the occasional snack, he’s managing a full plate—both professionally and personally. After hours, you’ll find him coaching his kids’ baseball and softball teams or dodging the siren call of Chick-fil-A.
At the heart of his work is a belief in partnership: “Your treatment is a team effort between the patient and dentist.” His greatest hope is that patients trust that process—and the people behind it. Inspired by his faith, his wife’s resilience, his children’s joy, and a loyal staff, Gregory says, “I’m not my own. Anything I endeavour is for the glory of another.”
Recently, he celebrated what might seem like a quiet victory—earning a master’s degree from Dallas Theological Seminary. “It was a very different type of academic challenge,” he says. “There were many late nights and early mornings. It’s nice to sleep again.”
Reggie Blair
Vice President of Enrollment Services, Cumberland University
Reggie’s calendar may be packed, but his purpose is clear: help students realize the opportunities available to fund their future. Whether he’s meeting with prospective families, reviewing strategies for student retention, or contributing to outreach through organizations like The 100 Black Men of Middle Tennessee, Blair stays grounded in community impact.
He’s a big believer in growth. “I want people to remember me as the guy who always pushed them to be better,” he says. He advocates for development, even when it’s uncomfortable. “Be willing to accept constructive criticism and support the counsel of those close to you—even when you disagree.”
What motivates him? His children. “They don’t care how my day went. They just want to hang out with dad.” Their smiles are a daily reset.
And a recent, quietly monumental achievement? Finally organizing and color-coding two years of personal emails. “It was daunting,” he laughs. “But it felt like a huge victory.”
Cory McDonald
Pharmacist/Owner, Buckeye Drugs
Cory starts most mornings sweeping the parking lot—just like his Uncle Steve taught him. “Pretend you’re the customer walking in. Is it clean? Welcoming?” That attention to detail carries into everything he does at Buckeye Drugs, from filling prescriptions to hunting down hard-to-find medications.
A firm believer in faith, sweat, and fixing problems, McDonald has faced his share of tough days. But one painful setback brought a lasting lesson: “Faith to trust God to get me through it, and sweat to put in the work. You can’t just lean on a shovel and expect a hole.”
He’s deeply invested in the community—serving on multiple nonprofit boards and backing local sports teams—but his biggest inspiration is right at home. His wife Megan and daughters Ellie Beth, Lulu, and Ivy are his “MILE.” On tough days, he glances at the word written on his hand to remind him why he keeps pushing.
A recent proud moment? Watching all three girls conquer blue diamond slopes in Montana. “Seeing my 9-year-old ski fearlessly down the mountain... it did my heart good.”
Shawn Smith
Owner/Lead Designer, The Jewelers & Hushpiggies | Founder, One Hand Up
Shawn’s day begins at 4 a.m. with a workout and ends with dinner alongside his wife Lindsay and their pups at home—usually after carving a few custom jewelry pieces at The Jewelers. “Creating from scratch, hopefully making something that becomes a lasting legacy for a family, that’s what I love,” he says.
He wears many hats—designer, entrepreneur, nonprofit founder—but is never the biggest in the room. “Don’t ever think you are the most important person there. Always give more than you receive.”
Smith credits failure as a teacher, not a threat. “Not taking the risk will never work,” he says. “I’ve seen businesses collapse from greed, inflexibility, or lack of passion. I try to learn from others and adjust.”
His biggest cheerleader? His mom. “There isn’t a day I don’t get a word of encouragement from her.”
A recent win that changed his day-to-day life? Hiring a GM who genuinely cares. “Most people never see the behind-the-scenes. But now, Lindsay and I can step away knowing our business is in trusted hands.”
Kenny Sallis
Owner, Sallis Realty Group | Board of Directors – Lebanon/Wilson County Chamber & EMTAR
For Kenny, most mornings begin behind the wheel—school drop-offs come first, followed by a full slate of real estate responsibilities. Some days it’s visiting a job site to check on a new home under construction; other mornings start with a deep dive into the latest listings before the coffee’s even cold. By afternoon, he’s sitting with sellers, showing homes, and wrapping up just in time to catch a ballgame or coach a team. “Ending the day on a high note,” as he puts it.
But behind the calendar is something deeper: a community-first mindset. “I hope people know that I care. That we care,” he says. “Lebanon is special. The way we wave at each other downtown, the way we treat our servers, teach our kids manners—those little things make up the big things.”
Sallis didn’t start in real estate. He made the difficult decision to step away from a career he loved in teaching and coaching. It was a risk, but one that changed his family’s trajectory. “That leap gave us opportunities we never dreamed of,” he reflects. “Sometimes you have to get comfortable with big change.”
These days, what inspires him isn’t just market wins—it’s scripture (Philippians 4:13), poetry, and memories like celebrating 12 years of marriage with his wife, Kellie. Or looking back 30 years to when his parents took a leap of their own, moving the family to Lebanon from Louisiana.
“I’m grateful,” he says. “For the chance to work, to serve, to build something meaningful here. And to pass down something better.”
Leadership like Kenny doesn’t always shout—or slow down. Sometimes, it shows up ready to hustle, ready to help, and always ready to make Lebanon a little better than the day before.