A Women in Wilson County magazine issue wouldn’t be complete without a tribute to movers and shakers in the region.
Topping that list would be eight-year Lebanon Wilson Co. Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Melanie Minter.
“I believe that I have the most rewarding job in our county. I love people. I love connecting people to their passion. I love watching businesses and individuals thrive in our community,” Minter says, “A handshake with a smile makes my day. Henry Ford said, “Coming together is a beginning; keeping together is a progress; working together is success.”
The Lebanon County Chamber of Commerce is active, strong and excited about the growing future of our county, she continued, “All great moments, events, history and people are the proud foundation upon which our community is built. The [chamber] is the glue that holds this framework together and strengthens them. Every day is a new beginning in both our personal lives and our professional lives. We can sit quietly and watch the day unfold with its familiar events, or we can stand up, seize the moment and take a gigantic step forward to create a new horizon that will make our lives and those lives around us better. Working together, the vision for Lebanon and Wilson County is limitless and our possibilities are endless.”
In 2022, The Lebanon Wilson County Chamber of Commerce introduced a new Explore Wilson app that holds the keys to opening the doors of Wilson County treasures. Join them in celebrating the extensive outlook of our beautiful county. To learn how your business can be added to the app, contact marketing@lebanowilsonchamber.com.
Next up, Erin Smagala, owner and photographer at The Glasshouse Photography Studio, a stunning greenhouse built on her six-acre property in Lebanon. As a newer Lebanon resident, Erin offers the ultimate in photographer packages including senior portraits, as well as branding shoots, boutiques, and headshots for businesswomen. Erin’s passion project is called Pretty With Purpose, where she campaigns to collect toiletries for local teens in foster care. Smagala says “Lebanon is a giving community, and I’m proud to be a part of it!”
Visit erinsmagala.com to view her galleries and for more information.
Joy Pine is passionate about historic preservation in Lebanon and thankful to call Lebanon’s beautiful Main Street district home to her business, Iddy & Oscar’s, a give back boutique whose core mission is to give back to the community and to the world. Married to David Pine with 3 beautiful daughters Ella Kate, CeCe and Eden, their family business is proud to donate 10% of their profits to local charities and to educating Kenyan street orphans. Iddy’s has sponsored 30 kids in schools across the country of Kenya including boarding schools, colleges, universities and trade schools.
Pine says, “By opening a give back boutique, it has allowed the community to be involved in a greater good! To date, Iddy’s has educated over 30 orphans in Kenya offering them the chance to self sustain!”
Iddy’s currently has a Give Back to Women project that is giving back to local charities including Our Sister’s Keeper and Rest Stop Ministries, as well as international charity, Freedom’s Promise.
“Women Empowering Women!” she boasts, “I love that Lebanon has a Main Street district adding to the charm of the area, the location is everything. Close to the city but far enough away, close to beautiful lakes and day hikes, but most importantly it’s the people that make up our sweet community.”
Next up is Amanda Polzel, a prominent, top-producing Realtor® in the Greater Nashville area. She and her husband, Jeremy own The Polzel Group, of Benchmark Realty. They have four daughters, and love being involved in the community. Amanda says she values building strong relationships with her clients, which she feels is key to feeling comfortable and confident throughout the buying or selling process.
“We love Jesus, and we try to bring Him into all that we do,” says Polzel, “I love that Lebanon has retained its small-town feel even as it grows because that faith runs deep and is part of the culture.”
Giving back to the community comes naturally to The Polzel Group, sponsoring and serving on the planning committee of the annual Phoenix Ball.
“We love partnering with Cumberland University, and especially with the Phoenix Ball as the proceeds go to fund scholarships for students who might not otherwise have an opportunity to go there,” she explained, “We also proudly partner with the Tri-Star Volleyball league, so that girls from Mt. Juliet Academy for Girls to have the opportunity to be a part of the league and have the same volleyball gear as the rest of the team.”
The Polzel motto is we are blessed to be a blessing, and their service to the Lebanon community is proof.
Tonya Sizemore Freeman, Director of Clinical Informatics at Summit Medical Center HCA says her background in nursing drives her compassion for the community. Her contributions support and provide services to improve and maintain a healthy lifestyle, heading up community events such as the county fair, fundraisers, career day, blood drives and more.
"I always want to feel like I've ended my work day supporting a healthy community as if my loved one depended on it,” she explained.
Tonya says the Lebanon Square is her favorite part of town, “I love the historic small town feel, filled with small business owners, seeing how the community supports one another through business and personal growth. We all have a gift, helping others pursue and see their gifts and dreams fills a town like ours.”
I believe that I have the most rewarding job in our county. I love people. I love connecting people to their passion. I love watching businesses and individuals thrive in our community. A handshake with a smile makes my day. -Melanie Minter, Chamber CEO
