Trey Carter

Patrick “Trey” Carter III has been named one of the Top 35 Millennial Influencers in the Country by the Next Big Thing Movement, a global network of more than 20,000 young professionals and creatives. Carter, president of Olympic Career Training Institute and an active community volunteer, is the only Tennessean to be included on the list. He will be honored Saturday, March 10, at NBTM’s Forward Conference in New York City alongside other influencers, including “The Daily Show” host Trevor Noah, Teen Vogue editor Elaine Welteroth and YouTube vlogger Tyler Oakley.

Hometown: Memphis, TN

Experience: 2001 graduate of White Station High School; 2006 graduate of Florida A&M University’s Mobley School of Business; 2011 graduate of Leadership Memphis

What talent do you wish you had? I wish I had the ability to read minds.

Who has had the greatest influence on you and why? My father had the greatest influence on me, because he made it a point early in my life to show me how to run a business and most importantly build a strong work ethic.

What is the Next Big Thing Movement and how did you get involved? The Next Big Thing Movement is a global nonprofit social movement and platform that encourages collaboration; cultivates voices for visions; and helps creatives turn their passions into prosperous careers. They are a great organization that has done some work in Memphis and I participated in a couple of their events in Memphis.

You’re joining an elite group as one of NBTM’s Top 35 Millennial Influencers. How does it feel to be in this spotlight, both as an individual and a Memphian? It feels good to have an opportunity to shine a bright light on Memphis and to share the positive things going on within the city. I am excited to be able to build relationships with the other recipients and invite them to see what Memphis is all about!

You’re a White Station grad who left Memphis for college – but you’ve returned, you own a business, and you’re heavily involved in civic causes. What brought you back, and how can Memphis do a better job attracting/retaining millennial talent like yourself? Millennials, before they go to college, need to know that even though other cities may offer the glitz and the glamour, there are also some huge barriers, such as higher rents and an overall higher cost of living. I always found it interesting that when I would visit friends who lived in the larger cities, their standard of living was always a lot less than mine, here in Memphis. The access Memphis allows one to have is priceless. You can do pretty much anything you have a desire to do.

Speaking of being a business owner, tell us a little about Olympic Career Training Institute. Olympic Career Training Institute is a Memphis-based logistics warehouse training company that is certified by the Tennessee Higher Education Commission as a post-secondary school for higher education as well as the Department of Labor and Veteran Affairs Administration. We started in 2010 with the vision of creating a place where individuals could gain the necessary skills to be successful in the logistics industry. We provide OSHA-compliant forklift training as well as all warehousing and distribution competencies, such as picking, packing, sorting, quality assurance and inventory control. We work with military veterans, unemployed and underemployed individuals as well as train employees of logistics companies.

Why is it important for young professionals to get involved in their communities, wherever they live? I was always taught to never just be in a place and take up space. There is always a requirement to participate and provide value. My parents always told me that you never want to be a “good-for-nothing.” There’s always an expectation of you to make the place you live better with you being there.

And for our Memphis-area readers, how can they start becoming involved in civic life if they aren’t already? It’s actually very easy. You can get involved with our robust nonprofit community to help with a cause. I’d also suggest volunteering with different organizations to get a close-up view of different efforts going on in Memphis.

What do you consider your greatest accomplishment? My greatest accomplishment will be that I took an idea and turned it into a sustainable business that helps the city become more competitive.

What do you most enjoy about your work? I enjoy working with the people of Memphis and assisting them to see their true potential. There’s nothing like seeing someone smile who just received employment after feeling defeated.

If you could give one piece of advice to young people, what would it be? Start on their passions immediately. There is no need to wait to you graduate high school or college to get started.

Chad Cunningham

Chad Cunningham, vice president and loan officer at Commercial Bank and Trust Co., has been named the new branch manager for CBTC’s Raymond James location in the bank’s Memphis operations. Cunningham has been employed in the financial services/banking industry since 2011 and joined CBTC in March 2015.

Leadership Memphis will honor three community leaders at its 2018 Leadership Awards Luncheon Wednesday, March 7, for exemplifying the true meaning of collective impact. Carolyn Hardy, president and CEO of Chism Hardy Investments LLC and Henderson Worldwide Investments LLC, will receive the Kate Gooch Leader of the Year Award. Reginald Porter Jr., senior vice president, enterprise operations, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital/ALSAC, will receive the Distinguished Alumnus of the Year Award. And Christ Community Health Services will receive the Community Champion Award.

Alex Reed

Camilla Balderas

Alex Reed has joined the Crone Law Firm PLC as executive and marketing assistant. Reed previously served in various marketing-related roles, including communications director and executive assistant for the Arkansas Secretary of State and data manager for congressional campaigns in Little Rock, Arkansas. In his new role, he will oversee the marketing and communications efforts of the employment law firm.

Camilla Balderas has joined Pickering Firm Inc.’s Memphis civil engineering team as an engineer intern. Camilla has a bachelor of science in civil engineering from Christian Brothers University.

The Tennessee chapter of the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation has formed a new Memphis junior board of directors. The qualifications are 21- to 34-year-old professionals with little to no board experience. Board members are: Nicole Berkowitz, Baker Donelson; Leslie Berry, Thomas & Betts; Vivian Cervantez, Southard Financial; Lindsey Donovan, Veesart Financial; Monte Eiseman, Kelman Lazarov; Ann Tipton Francis, Baker Donelson; Parker Harris, Baptist Memorial Health Care Corp.; Christina Hartnack, FedEx Corp.; Stacy Jacobson, WREG; Lee Olswanger, Merrill Lynch; and Tarryn Sanchez, inferno.

Junior Achievement of Memphis and the Mid-South's young professionals board has named its 2018 officers: Charlie House, Smith & Nephew, chairman; Brittney Murray, UT Health Science Center, vice chair of classroom programs; Kaylee Oaks and Mia McIvor, both of Hometown Realty, vice co-chairs of special events; Libby Ellman, St. Agnes Academy/St. Dominic School, vice chair of outreach; Jennifer Jakob, ServiceMaster, treasurer; and Megan Richards, Mercer Capital, secretary.