VOL. 129 | NO. 171 | Wednesday, September 3, 2014
NEWSMAKERS
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Stepherson Named Chair-Elect of Grocers Association
By Kate Simone
Randy Stepherson has been named 2014-2015 chairman-elect of the Tennessee Grocers & Convenience Store Association board of directors. Stepherson is president of Stepherson Inc., the family- and employee-owned parent company of Superlo Foods, which has five Memphis-area locations, and Stepherson’s.
Hometown: I was born and raised in Memphis.
Experience: Graduated from University of Memphis in 1974. Worked as a CPA with Rhea and Ivy CPAs for 2 1/2 years. I returned to my family’s grocery business in late 1976 and have been here ever since. I serve on the boards of Alliance Marketing Group, Associated Wholesale Grocers and the TGCSA. I have been on TGCSA’s board for three years.
Family: Married to Marti Stepherson; three children: Samantha White, Erin Phillips, J.R. Stepherson; four grandchildren: Ella White, Camila White, James Phillips, Lea Phillips. I have four siblings, all of whom are involved in the family business.
Favorite quote: “Success is 1 percent inspiration and 99 percent perspiration.”
What’s playing on your stereo right now? “I Won’t Back Down,” Tom Petty
Activities you enjoy outside of work: Bicycling with the Memphis Hightailers, motorcycling and hanging out at Horseshoe Lake.
Who has had the greatest influence on you and why? My father, Kenneth Stepherson. He showed me by example the importance of getting up and being in the game every day.
What is the role of the Tennessee Grocers & Convenience Store Association? TGCSA exists first and foremost as an organization to represent the grocery business in Nashville. TGCSA keeps tabs on what is happening in Nashville politically that might influence our business. Parallel with that, TGCSA lobbies on behalf of the grocery and convenience store business on behalf of issues that we wish to pursue, i.e., wine in grocery stores.
The organization further provides services to independent grocers such as coupon clearing and provides an annual convention bringing retailers and trade partners together from across the state. We also promote our industry and camaraderie amongst grocers and trade partners through our TGEF, Tennessee Grocers Education Fund. We have fundraisers across the state via golf and sporting clay events. We grant scholarships to employees and family members of employees.
If you could give one piece of advice to young people, what would it be? If you want a good life, find something that you can devote yourself to. Then work, spend less than you make, and save the difference.
M.E. “Buck” Dougherty III has joined the Memphis office of Wyatt, Tarrant & Combs LLP as a partner and member of the firm’s Bankruptcy & Creditors’ Rights Service Team. Dougherty concentrates his practice in commercial litigation, insolvency and commercial bankruptcy.
Jami K. Lazarov has joined the Memphis office of Wyatt, Tarrant & Combs LLP as a member of the firm’s Corporate & Securities Service Team. Lazarov concentrates her practice in the areas of general corporate, mergers and acquisitions, leasing and real estate transactions.
Russ Brasfield, project manager, land resources, in the Memphis office of Barge, Waggoner, Sumner and Cannon Inc. has graduated from the firm’s leadership institute. The 18-month program is customized by Lipscomb University’s College of Business and provides executive education in business, communication, negotiation and other skillsets.
General surgeon Dr. Thomas Beasley has teamed with Methodist Healthcare to join Methodist Surgical Associates in Olive Branch. He will primarily operate at Methodist Olive Branch Hospital. Beasley received his medical degree from the University of Tennessee College of Medicine, Memphis.
Joe Birch and Otis Sanford have been inducted into the Tennessee Journalism Hall of Fame. Birch is a longtime co-anchor for WMC-TV Action News 5. Sanford is a former reporter, editor and columnist for the Commercial Appeal.
The Greater Memphis Chamber has named its 2014 Young Memphians, 10 outstanding young professionals who will be featured in the Young Memphis edition of Memphis Crossroads Magazine. They are: Carlos Thomas, founder, Bezzirk App; Benjamin Rednour, manager, client services and social media, Running Pony; Dr. Do Nguyen, optometrist, The Eyewear Gallery; Robert Shappley, associate administrator, Saint Francis Hospital; Eddie Fuchs, executive recruiter, Vaco Logistics; Nicolette Thomas, senior specialist, event marketing, ALSAC/St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital; Meghan Medford, president, Medford Roofing; Sophia Cole, program director, Medtronic; Lauren Anderson, associate of development, Teach for America; and Robbye Good, program director, Embark, New Memphis Institute.
Eleven Memphis-area Realtors have been recognized as America’s Best Real Estate Agents by REAL Trends, which ranks agents who completed at least $20 million in sales and 50 transaction sides last year. They are: Albert Lee, Century 21 Maselle and Associates; Jimmie Tapley and Judy O. McLellan, Crye-Leike Realtors; R. Darnell Tate, ERA Legacy Realty; Greg Glosson, Fast Track Realty; Sheldon Rosengarten, Jon Dickens and Melody Bourell, Marx-Bensdorf Realtors; and Jessica Brown, James D. Abell and Carolyn Whaley, RE/MAX Real Estate Experts.
SRVS has added five new members to its board of directors: Robert Blankenship, senior vice president of operations planning and analysis, Sedgwick; Jay Ebelhar, attorney, Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz PC; Robert Sutton, vice president, private client financial services, First Tennessee Bank; Missy Marshall, executive director, Keep Tennessee Beautiful; and John Barzizza, retired businessman and former member of the SRVS advisory council.