It's Back to School time! #JacksonTN needs your help to educate our children and make our community a brighter place. Dr. Eric Jones, Jackson-Madison County School System's Superintendent, and The Bank of Jackson's, A.J. Massey - the Jackson Chamber's education sponsors, tell how you can help.


Find out more about A2H, Inc. from Lanie Sewell with our Member Connection.

Looking for live music this weekend? Jackson and West Tennessee are home to numerous live music venues and special events over the July 19th weekend. Thanks to our friend Matt Barnacastle and the Jackson Area Music Society for sharing the weekend's live music events! Thursday July 19th       Friday July 20th Saturday July 21st   Sunday July 22nd Whether it’s an annual event or one of our great live music venues, experience the music which could only be “Made in Tennessee” found halfway between Memphis and Nashville in the heart of the Americana Music Triangle!  Visit JacksonTN to connect with what is happening in Jackson and West Tennessee. Connect socially on

SBA District Director La Tanya Channel and JSCC President Allana Hamilton present Ron Acree and Joel Newman with the SBA Resource Partner of the Year Award.


Jackson State Community College’s Tennessee Small Business Development Center (SBDC) has been named the SBA-Tennessee Resource Partner of the Year Most Loan Referrals Award recipient for 2018. The award was presented on Thursday, July 12 to college president Dr. Allana Hamilton by Small Business Administration (SBA) District Director La Tanya Channel.


The TSBDC is a network of centers across the state working to assist small business startups through classes, seminars, advising, and business loan referrals. According to SBA Deputy District Director Shawn McKeehan, this is the first time this award has been distributed. The criteria are based on the referrals sent in for small business loans through each individual center.


Jackson State’s TSBDC Director, Ron Acree, says this award is significant not just for the school but for West Tennessee. Small business loan referral rates are among the highest in the state, even surpassing those in more metropolitan areas and is a strong indicator of small business development and growth in the area. “We’ve seen an influx within the last year, and we’ve been able to help start-ups and existing businesses get loans more than ever before,” says Acree. “It makes our job a lot better when we can help them and see the results of the referrals.”


Discover more about the TSBDC.

Summer Paris

Summer Paris of Paris Creative Agency.


Paris Creative Agency specializes in several areas of marketing including advertising, public relations, digital advertising and social media.


The agency was founded by Summer Paris four years ago and officially launched in the spring of 2018. Her background is in both agency and corporate marketing. She has worked with dozens of clients in a variety of fields including healthcare, professional services, legal, real estate, retail, food, government, insurance, non-profit, technology and financial services. She was also part of the team that worked on the Jackson Chamber branding campaign.


“When I meet with a client, I assess their business goals and develop a strategic plan to help them grown their business,” said Paris. “This will include a mix of traditional and digital media. I treat each client like I am an owner in their business and only make investments that are beneficial to them and their long-term goals.”


“The modern consumer cannot be influenced the same way they were five years ago. Digital advertising is an extremely important part of any strategic plan,” said Paris.


The digital side of Paris Creative specializes in building niche markets online, direct response marketing, programmatic advertising, social media targeting, the google display network, pay-per click advertising from Google/Bing/Yahoo, online pre-roll video ads, websites and SEO.


“I believe that it is important to still include traditional advertising like direct mail, outdoor billboards, radio, tv, print, etc. in a marketing plan when appropriate” said Paris.


“Every client has different goals and audiences, so each marketing plan is unique. I cover it all from start to finish- media strategy, research, rate negotiation, schedule development, creative, execution and reconciliation.”


She was selected as one of Jackson’s Finest Young Professionals by the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation in 2013 and for The Jackson Sun’s 40 Under 40 in 2014.


Paris has been involved with raising money for local non-profits like CASA, WRAP, Imagination Library, RIFA, The Dream Center, Youth Town, Care Center and Hands Up through the Jackson Service League.


She also coordinated publicity for the March of Dimes’ March for Babies and Breakfast for Babies for several years. In additional to working with the local March of Dimes chapter, she served on the communications committee for the State of Tennessee.


Paris has also served as a communications committee co-chair for the West Tennessee American Cancer Society.


For the past four years, she has coordinated the donation of more than 300 coats to kids in need through Carl’s Coats for Kids benefitting the Carl Perkin’s Center for the Prevention of Child Abuse. This project was developed, organized, coordinated across 17 stores and executed by Paris.


She grew up in Bells, Tennessee and graduated from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville with a bachelor of science in Communication with a focus on public relations. She was vice president of Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority and later became the founding president of the West Tennessee Kappa Kappa Gamma Alumnae Association.


Paris is married to her high school sweetheart, Pete Paris, and has two children ages one and four. When she’s not working, she enjoys photography, DIY projects and party planning.


To learn more about Paris Creative or to contact them for a consultation.

Looking for live music this weekend? Jackson and West Tennessee are home to numerous live music venues and special events over the July 5th weekend. Thanks to our friend Matt Barnacastle and the Jackson Area Music Society for sharing the weekend's live music events! Thursday July 5th         Friday July 6th   Saturday July 7th   Whether it’s an annual event or one of our great live music venues, experience the music which could only be “Made in Tennessee” found halfway between Memphis and Nashville in the heart of the Americana Music Triangle!  Visit JacksonTN to connect with what is happening in Jackson and West Tennessee. Connect socially on Facebook and Twitter or call 731.425.8333.

This e-brochure was developed and distributed by the Jackson Chamber’s Governmental Affairs Committee and our sponsors so that Jackson Chamber members can have more information about candidates’ positions prior to voting.

Candidates in the August, 2018 County General Election were invited to respond to a question, as well as to provide short biographical information. Each candidate was instructed that he or she could use 75 words or less to answer the question. As we have done in the past, only candidates in contested races who were candidates of record as of the Madison County Election Commission deadline, and who have not withdrawn from their races, are included in this brochure. The information shown for each candidate is the response provided by that candidate.

This information is provided to you by our Governmental Affairs Sponsors and the Governmental Affairs Committee of the Jackson Chamber, 197 Auditorium, Jackson, Tennessee. Questions? Call us at 731-423-2200.

Hannah Hartig

Hannah Hartig joins the Jackson Chamber as economic development assistant.


Jackson Chamber announces the addition of Hannah Hartig as economic development assistant. As economic development assistant, Hartig will be responsible for performing a variety of economic development and administrative duties and will be an integral part of the industrial recruitment and retention process. She will also have the opportunity to serve in other areas of the organization, including workforce development, leadership development, reception and events.


“Hannah served as an Economic Development Intern with the Jackson Chamber while in college and made an immediate impression on our team,” said Mandy White, senior vice president of economic development for the Jackson Chamber. “Her prior work and educational experience, combined with her outgoing personality make Hannah a great fit at the chamber. Her passion for customer service and her drive to do a job well done will serve her well in this organization. The skill set required to be successful in economic development perfectly aligns with Hannah’s capabilities.”


"I’m thrilled to be working with the chamber and look forward to being involved with businesses and industries in Jackson,” says Hartig. “As an intern I really enjoyed the people and culture of the Jackson Chamber, and I am excited about the opportunity to continue working here."


Hannah is a 2018 graduate from Union University with a B.S. degree in business administration. In her spare time, she enjoys traveling and spending time with her friends and family. Hannah is originally from Humboldt, TN, and resides in Jackson.


Connect with Hannah by emailing hhartig@jacksontn.com or calling 731-423-2200.