According to a story in the Nashville Post on February 2, Allen Printing [Steve Curnutte] recently bought Nashville Bindery Co., a venerable player in Nashville’s printing sector.

Debbie Gordon [S3 Asset Management & S3 Consulting] will be presenting at the Nashville Business Journal’s Crash Course on Advancing Through Leadership on March 20, 2013. Learn more here.

Music City Tents & Events [JT Terrell] was featured in a Nashville Business Journal story about new event venues recently popping up in Nashville. JT Terrell was quoted saying he anticipates the events market to grow by as much as 50 percent in part because of developments including Music City Center, the new Omni hotel and the Country Music Hall of Fame expansion.

Nashville tech firms Metova [Kevin Ross], Concept Technology Inc. [James Fields], CentreSource [Nicholas Holland] and Emma [Clinton Smith] appeared in The Tennessean on Sunday. Click here to see how the firms are finding ways to fill tech jobs.

John Rowley [Fletcher | Rowley] appeared on MSNBC’s “Melissa Harris-Perry Show” last Monday morning with Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed, Howard Dean and Karen Finney. Topics covered on the segment included: “Rebuilding the Democratic Party,” “Politics of Food” and “Politics of the Poor.”

James Fields’ [Concept Technology Inc.] column appeared in The Tennessean last Sunday. This week’s column described four technology trends for 2013.

Dan Hogan [Medalogix] appeared in the January issue of Predictive Modeling News. In the article, Dan discussed predictive modeling in healthcare.

Metova [Kevin Ross] was featured in The Tennessean last Tuesday. According to the story, “Metova recently announced the hiring of a squad of developers, noting that there is more hiring to come.”

Last Friday, Kevin Ross [Metova] was featured in the Nashville Business Journal’s “Forty Under 40” section.

Congratulations to Dan Hogan [Medalogix] who won the Nashville Business Journal’s “Most Admired CEO” award.

Burger Up [Miranda Pontes] was featured as Southern Exposure Magazine’s “restaurant spotlight” in the magazine’s Holiday 2012 issue.

James Fields’ [Concept Technology, Inc.] weekly column appear in the Tennessean on Sunday. In this week’s article, James Outside detailed reasons to consider Internet content filtering for your business.

EO Catalyst member Lisa York [Puka Organizing] will be featured on an episode of TLC’s Hoarding: Buried Alive. Puka Organizing was the professional organizing element of the project, working alongside a licensed therapist, a hazardous waste removal company and several volunteers for the first day. They worked independently with the homeowner for 3 additional days, successfully transforming the home into one that is habitable. The episode will be airing in early 2013.

Advance Financial [Michael Hodges] has opened a new location at 2500 Murfreesboro Pike in Nashville and 201 West Main Street in Hendersonville. Read The Tennessean story here.

The Nashville Post recently named the 2012 Tech 25. The list is comprised of the Nashville area’s most distinctive and fascinating IT entities that will continue to help drive Nashville’s fast-changing tech scene. Congratulations to the following EO Nashville member companies for making the 2012 Tech 25:

• Metova [Kevin Ross]
• Medalogix [Dan Hogan]
• Medi-Copy Services Inc. [Elliott Holt]

Andy Bailey’s [Petra Coach] bi-weekly column appeared in last Sunday’s Tennessean. His column discussed the importance of making business personal.

Charles Robert Bone [Bone McAllester Norton] was featured in the Nashville Business Journal November 16. Charles Robert was one of four entrepreneur leaders speaking about the message of persistence and perseverance at panel discussion.

Catalyst member company Rhoades Car International was recently featured in The Tennessean. Rhoades Car, owned by Bill Pomakoy and wife, Phyllis Shelton, manufactures 10 residential pedal push models and eight industrial models from their Hendersonville warehouse, each with a sticker reading ‘Proudly Made in the USA’. Rhoades Car International was also featured in Daily Helmsman earlier in the month.

John Kepley [Teknetex] was featured in the Nashville Business Journal’s Forty Under 40 on November 23.

David Waddell’s [Waddell & Associates] column appeared in the Memphis Daily News on November 27th. The column can be read here. David Waddell was also quoted in a feature report in Barron’s on November 10. The special report on retirement focused on managed payout funds.

In his most recent weekly column for the Tennessean, James Fields [Concept Technology Inc.] raised the question, “Do Macs make sense for your business?” In his column James lists five hurdles companies may face when switching from Windows to Macs.

Medalogix [Dan Hogan] was featured in News-Line yesterday in a story that discussed Medalogix’ Predictive Modeling Software. The software helped a home health company decrease 30-Day readmissions by a 35.9% average rate from the third quarter of 2011 to the third quarter three of 2012. Medalogix was also featured in News-Line for Nurses and Home Health Care Today.

Sam’s Sports Grill [Sam Sanchez] was recently featured in the Gluten-Free Cat for its new gluten-free menu. You can read the full story here.

Bob Bernstein [Bongo Productions], Nicholas Holland [Populr.me], Kevin Ross [Metova] and Mike Rustici [Rustici Software] were all featured in Forbes on Oct. 15. Forbes asked company founders their big “aha” moments. Bob is #17, Nicholas #22, Kevin #22 and Mike #73.

Ben Hanback [The Hanback Group] and Tim Ozenger [OZ Nashville] were featured in the Nashville Post on Sunday. The story mentioned Ben and Tim as two of many local investors looking to increase portfolios with alternative investing.

The Nashville Technology Council Gala Awards took place Tuesday, Oct. 23. Congratulations to the following EO member finalists and winners:

• Kevin Ross [Metova] accepted the Software Developer of the Year award on behalf of his company’s development team
• Jason Moore [Stratasan] won Early Stage Company of the Year
• Tod Fetherling [also of Stratasan] was the newest member to be inducted in the NTC Hall of Fame

• Jessica McDougal [of EO member company Teknetex] was a finalist for Volunteer of the Year
• Carl Pottkotter [of EO member company NovaCopy] was a finalist for CTO of the Year
• Jason Levkulich [also of NovaCopy] was a finalist for Company of the Year

David Waddell’s [Waddell & Associates] column was featured in the Memphis Daily News on Wednesday. The article discussed the possible alternatives to dividends.

Sam’s Sports Grill [Sam Sanchez] was voted one of America’s Best Sports Bars by The Daily Meal.

On Wednesday, the Nashville Business Journal wrote about Jame Fields’ [Concept Technology Inc.] creative idea to turn to valet parking to solve its growing parking issues.

Bernard Health [Alex Tolbert] was featured in Wednesday’s Tennessean. Alex was mentioned in response to BlueCross ending its plan to open a retail store in Nashville.

Rebecca Donner’s [Inner Design Studio] article was featured in Healthcare Design Magazine. Her article included tips to reduce patient room noise with design materials.

Adam Platt mentioned Benjamin Goldberg [Strategic Hospitality] in his blog today for Conde Nast Traveler. Adam met Benjamin on his Southern States Food Tour. He also mentioned the excellent food he tried at the Patterson House and the Catbird Seat.

Benjamin Goldberg [Strategic Hospitality] helped the Tennessee Titans kick off the season with two new sandwich options created by Merchants Restaurant Executive Chef Jason Brumm as part of the latest food offerings at LP Field. You can read the Tennessean story (and watch the video with Ben) here.

Bernard Health [Alex Tolbert] was included in a Nashville Ledger story about local technology companies bringing health care into the digital future.

News of Kevin Ross [Metova] bringing on a new investor was covered in several outlets last week. You can read the Nashville Post coverage here.

Steve Curnutte [Tortola Partners] was profiled in the August 31 print edition of the Nashville Business Journal. Steve’s printing company, Allen Printing, was also featured in a Harvard Business Review piece the month. The piece asked the question: Are you growing too fast?

And lastly, in the Tennessean’s 2012 Toast of Music City Awards, the following EO Nashville member companies were honored:

• Best Burger: Burger Up [Miranda Pontes]
• Best Sports Bar: Sam’s Sports Grill (2^nd place) [Sam Sanchez]
• Best Home Builder: Castle Homes [Alan Looney]

EO Nashville members who made the 2012 Inc. 500|5000 list are:

• #416, Bill Kimberlin, Medicare.com
• #485, John Kepley, Teknetex
• #797, Peter Hermann, Belmont Software Services
• #1003, Adam James, Wyndham Group
• #1133, Martin Reed, RANDA Solutions
• #1165, Michael Hodges, Advance Financial
• #1498, Brian Prentice, Ingenuity Associates
• #1614, Kevin Ross, Metova
• #1665, Elliot Holt, Medi-Copy Services
• #2577, Ben Mankin, Mankin Media Systems
• #2884, James Fields, Concept Technology
• #3281, Nicholas Holland CentreSource
• #3679, Tom Turner, DSi
• #3706, Max Sadler and Sonny Clark, Advanced Network Solutions
• #3924, Justin Crosslin, Crosslin & Associates
• #4160, Jerry Bostelman, Vaco
• #4445, Darren Metz, NovaCopy
• #4718, Steve Curnutte Allen Printing
• #4956, Jeremy Werthan, Werthan
• #5000, Hannah Paramore, Paramore | The Digital Agency

These 20 companies employee 1,326 individuals; grew at an average rate of 199% from 2008 to 2011; and have combined 2011 revenues of $287 million. Furthermore, of the three Tennessee companies that made the Inc. 500, two were EO member companies: Medicare.com and Teknetex.

According to the magazine, companies are chosen for the list by comparing revenue growth from 2008 to 2011. Companies must be U.S.-based, privately held, independent, for-profit and not a subsidiary or division of another company. Revenues in 2008 must have been at least $100,000 and at least $2 million for 2011.

The full list can be accessed at inc.com/inc5000.

On August 20, Forbes ran a story about InQuicker [Michael Brody-Waite] and its lack of venture capital fundraising. The article “Health Tech Start-Up InQuicker Shuns Venture Money and Hype” talks about the company’s growth sans VC money.

A Sunday Tennessean article talked about Emma’s [Clint Smith] new digs in the Trolley Barns and new initiatives as a company.

Paramore | the digital agency [Hannah Paramore] is opening an outpost in West Virginia, a fact covered by the Nashville Business Journal on Tuesday.

If you haven’t had a chance to read David Waddell’s [Waddell & Associates] column in the Memphis Daily News, take a few minutes to do so. His August 15 column, “Economic Outcomes Remain Up in Air,” discusses how the economy remains uncertain, and in his August 23 column, “Facts, Feelings Go Hand in Hand,” David gives us all an investment lesson.

Andy Bailey’s [Petra Coach] weekly column for the Tennessean stresses the importance of daily meetings.

On Thursday, August 23, Variety profiled Scott Scovill and the path he took to start Moo Creative and Moo TV.

Friday’s Nashville Business Journal included a story about Nashville-based mergers and acquisitions, using Greg Greenwell’s [TotalPrint] recent purchase of Brooks Technology Management as an example of the trend.

And lastly, the Nashville Business Journal recently announced it’s 2012 Small Business Awards. EO Nashville companies to make the list included:

• Alex Tolbert [Bernard Health]
• Michael Brody-Waite [Inquicker]
• John Kepley [Teknetex]
• Kevin Ross [Metova]
• Ben Hanback [The Hanback Group]
• Bill Kimberlin [Medicare.com]

Stratasan [Jason Moore]: Stratasan’s national recognition at the 2012 Health Datapalooza was featured on the Nashville Post blog.

Medi-Copy Services [Elliott Holt] : Medi-Copy Services as recently named one of the Business Journal’s 2012 HealthCare Heros. Check out the whole list here.

Metova [Kevin Ross]: Metova landed the cover of the June edition of the Nashville Post magazine and secured a place in the publication’s Fast 15 list.

The Catbird Seat [Ben Goldberg]: It seems you can’t turn around without seeing a mention of Ben and Max Goldberg’s newest successful restaurant. Most recently, The Catbird Seat turned up in a New York Times article on Nashville’s budding food scene.

Check out the linked text to read all these great clips and mentions.

EO Nashville member Arnie Malham and his company cj Advertising won the 26-100 employee category.

Five EO Nashville members also received recognition as finalists.

• Castle Home [Alan Looney]
• Metova [Kevin Ross]
• teknetex inc [John Kepley]
• Document Solutions, Inc. [Tom Turner]
• Vaco [Jerry Bostelman]

Below you can find clips of all finalists. Congratulations to all Best in Business honorees.

Ross’ profile included answers to the question:  How is your generation shaping your industry? ”I’m not sure it is ‘my’ generation, but we are in an interesting time where the mobile industry is taking shape right before our very eyes. We are living in a time where we have an unprecedented ability to create and distribute our work, impacting people globally.

Kepley’s answer to the same question included the response: “I was born in the middle of what is considered Generation X. Gen X took the technology that had been created and began to frame it in ways that are used every day. They made the technology personal, which has shaped every industry in some way.”

Click on the clips below to read the full articles.

Congratulations to John and Kevin.

The Goldbergs’ newest eatery, The Catbird Seat, was named one of 10 finalists for Best New Restaurant in America by the James Beard Foundation. Also, GQ magazine placed The Catbird Seat at No. 5 on a list of Top 10 New Restaurants.

Two EO Nashville members were featured in the Feb. 12th edition of the Tennessean:

• Andy Bailey [Rock Habits] talks about organizing a trip to Cuba for his EO forum in a story about Nashvillians’ reactions to an easing of travel restrictions to the communist island.
• Susan Marlow [Smart Data Strategies] is featured in a story about how innovation and a global search for talent have been key to her business rebounding from the recession.

Dan Hogan [Medalogix] was also featured in the Feb. 10th edition of the Nashville Business Journal in an article that explores Dan’s newest health care tech venture.

Jolene Dressel [Trojan Labor] was included in the Tennessean’s Feb. 5 edition, in a story about her company and Nashville’s construction industry.

Finally, the Nashville Business Journal announced today finalists for its 2012 Best in Business Awards. Finalists include EO Nashville member companies:

• Castle Home [Alan Looney]
• Metova [Kevin Ross]
• teknetex inc [John Kepley]
• cj Advertising [Arnie Malham]
• Document Solutions, Inc. [Tom Turner]
• Vaco [Jerry Bostelman]

My company is…

Metova, Inc.

Alma mater…

Iowa State University

Spouse, kids, pet…

Jen Porter Ross. 0 kids. 1 dog and 3 cats.

The town I was born in…

Des Moines, Iowa

Non-profit I support…

Big Brothers and Big Sisters

Favorite place to vacation…

What is this vacation thing you speak of?

New in my playlist…

Warren Buffet’s 37-hour life story audiobook.

What I’m reading…

Stocks for the Long Run

Favorite restaurant…

Buca di Beppo

Favorite honky-tonk…

I neither honky nor tonk.

Best business advice you have ever received

People perform how they are measured.

If I wasn’t an entrepreneur I’d be…

A software developer.

Wish I had more time for…

Reading and vacation.

I would do just about anything for…

Financial freedom.

The best thing about EO…

Meeting the few others that can understand and share experiences.

Congratulations John and Kevin! You can view the complete list here.

Best Employers 2011

Jerry Bostelman, Vaco
Clint Smith, Emma
Tom Turner, Document Solutions Inc.

The Post used employee research company, The Work Institute, to help build its Best Employer list. Employees of nominated companies had to fill out a questionnaire that collected information on employee benefits, financial incentives, job satisfaction and a variety of information that was designed to gain perspective on the employees’ view of the company.

2011 Tech 25

Kevin Ross, Metova
Clint Smith, Emma
Tom Turner, Document Solutions Inc.

Companies were chosen for the Tech 25 list based on a variety of factors, including business size and scope, markets served, how the company’s technology affects the marketplace and future plans.

Congratulations to all highlighted companies.

Friday’s Nashville Business Journal has three stories about and one mention of EO Nashville companies:

1. A full-page story on page 2 covers the EO Nashville Fall Economic Survey, highlighted by comments from EO members Andy Bailey of Rock Habits and Chris Glaser of Focus Technology Group.
2. EO member Kevin Ross of Metova is featured in today’s NBJ Case Study, where he talks about how employee empowerment has been key to his firm’s success.
3. EO member Jerry Bostelman of Vaco was profiled for having one of Nashville’s 25 fastest growing companies. Like Kevin Ross, Jerry attributes a large portion of his company’s success to engaging and listening to his employees.
4. EO member Darren Metz’s company, Novacopy was listed as a member of the NBJ 100, which are the 100 largest privately held companies in Nashville by revenue. This is Novacopy’s first year on the list and it came on at the 93 spot. (Vaco, mentioned above, moved up from 54 to 40 on the list this year.)

And, on the national front, EO member Miranda Pontes’ restaurant, Burger Up, had its now-famous Jack Daniels Maple Ketchup featured in the most recent issue of People magazine in an article about the new food trend of fancy ketchup.

Of the current 88 EO Nashville members, 15% have been named to the Inc. 500|5000 list of the fastest-growing private companies in America.

EO Nashville member companies also make up 25% of Nashville-based companies on the Inc. 500|5000 list. Statewide, EO Nashville members account for 12% of Tennessee-based companies on the list.

Member companies who made the Inc. 500|5000 list are:

• Advanced Network Solutions (#3232), Sonny Clark, Founder and President
• Concept Technology, Inc. (#2516), James Fields, Founder and President
• Crosslin & Associates (#3763), Justin Crosslin, Principal
• Document Solutions, Inc. (#1662), Tom Turner, Co-Founder and President
• Emma (#1610), Clint Smith, Co-Founder and CEO
• Fastsigns (#2055), Scott Snoyer, Owner
• LetterLogic (#2682), Sherry Stewart Deutschmann, Founder and CEO
• Metova (#492), Kevin Ross, President and Founder
• Midsouth Consulting Group (#3923), Jason Carpenter, CEO
• OptiMech (#3911), Tim Page, Executive Vice President
• Paramore-Redd Online Marketing (#2974), Hannah Paramore, President
• Randa Solutions (#388), Marty Reed, President and CEO
• Vaco Resources, LLC (#3895), Jerry Bostelman, Founder

According to the magazine, companies are chosen for the list by comparing revenue growth from 2007 to 2010. Companies must be U.S.-based, privately held, independent, for-profit and not a subsidiary or division of another company. Revenues in 2007 must have been at least $100,000 and at least $2 million for 2010.

The full list can be accessed here.

Following a record-breaking fall recruitment, the Nashville EO chapter again broke recruitment molds, adding 21 members since the beginning of 2011, and securing its place as one of the fastest growing EO chapters in the world.

EO Nashville has grown 32% over the last 12 months. The growth is due to more than just adding new members—96% of existing members recently renewed their memberships as well.

The 21 new members of EO Nashville are:

Michael Berman is founder and CEO of Network Contract Solutions, a leading provider of contract management solutions. He has worked as general counsel for Goldleaf Financial Solutions, Inc., Tecniflex, Inc. and Imagic Corporation. He holds degrees from Cornell University and the University of Tennessee.

Robert Collins III founded Wealth Management Group of Tennessee in 2001, after nine years in the insurance and investment industry. His practice focuses on investment strategy, wealth preservation, retirement distribution and legacy planning for the next generation. He attended the University of Mississippi and Belmont University.

Sherry Stewart Deutschmann founded LetterLogic, Inc. in 2002 from in the basement of her home. The fast-growing manufacturing and business services provider, prints and mails statements, letters and invoices for other business, primarily in the healthcare sector. Deutschmann also speaks for national women’s organizations, publicizing the benefits of employee-centric cultures.

Michael Hodges has been president and CEO of Advance Financial since 1998. He has grown the company from three locations to 26 with over 200 employees, making it the leading provider of alternative financial services in Middle Tennessee. He attended the University of Tennessee.

Aimee Johns is well known in the music industry, not for her music, but for her unique style and unmatched client service. Her award-winning designer boutiques, Flavour and Flavour Men, cater to the music industry as well as professional athletes and everyone in between. Johns previously worked at RCA Records and Arista.

Bill Kimberlin is a proven entrepreneur, founder and investor of numerous businesses. By the age of 27, both Forbes and US News & World Report had recognized him as a leading entrepreneur. Kimberlin currently serves as founder and CEO of Medicare.com. He was the founding president of the Nashville chapter of EO, at the time called Young Entrepreneurs Organization.

Chris Kincade is chief executive officer of The Kincade Group, Inc., a master franchisor in commercial cleaning. He’s led and company for 12 years, managing more than 300 franchises for Bonus Building Care in Nashville, Memphis, Birmingham and South Florida. He attended Vanderbilt University.

Nancy Leach founded Facility Planners, Inc. in 1995, under the concept of coordinating the fields of architecture, interior design, construction and project management with furniture specification, procurement and installation. Leach got her bachelor’s from O’More College and her master’s from Belmont University.

Alan Looney is founder and president of Castle Homes. He serves as the Custom Builders Council president for the Home Builders Association of Middle Tennessee. He is also a member of Builder 20, U.S. Green Building Council, Christian Leadership Concept and the Nashville Chamber of Commerce.

Bert Lyles has spent his career in commercial and residential real estate. Currently the CEO of Showhomes Franchise Corporation, the country’s largest provider of staging services to high-end houses for sale. He has also served for more than 10 years as an adjunct professor at Vanderbilt University’s Graduate School of Business.

Susan Marlow is founder and CEO of Smart Data Strategies, Inc. She is familiar with all facets of the parcel conversion industry, having completed GIS and parcel conversion projects for cities and counties across the United States. She is active in multiple professional organizations, including the Institute for GIS Studies and the Transportation Research Board.

Jackson Miller is an innovative technologist turned entrepreneur. He currently owns Plato’s Closet franchises and is CEO of Bizen, a web-based dashboarding tool that provides insight into the workings of franchises. He has also made significant contributions to many of Nashville’s most noteworthy startups, including Emma, Magazines.com, centresource and BorderJump.

Taylor Milliken is president and CEO of Elite Landscape Company, Inc., a turnkey provider for residential and commercial landscape services. He previously worked for The Tess Company, and attended Volunteer State Community College for engineering.

Miranda Whitcomb Pontes owns Burger Up in the 12South neighborhood. She’s passionate about using organic, locally sourced meat and produce in her establishments. She is currently fostering plans for a second Burger Up location in Cool Springs.

Gene Robertson has owned U.S. Lawns of Nashville, a commercial landscape management franchise, for 12 years. In addition to two Nashville locations, he has locations in Clarksville and Murfreesboro. Robertson graduated from Middle Tennessee State University.

JJ Rosen is the CEO and founder of Atiba Software LLC. He founded Atiba in 1992 to provide IT, programming, Web development, database design, and project management services to clients of all types and sizes including the District Attorneys Office and the State of Tennessee Department of Human Services. He graduated from Vanderbilt University.

Kevin Ross is an entrepreneur with a passion for bootstrapping and building profitable, sustainable companies that make a difference. He founded the mobile software company, Metova, Inc. in 2006. Three offices later, Metova now ranks among the best in the world in mobile application development. He graduated from Iowa State University.

Suzanne Sevier Rowland always had a passion for sewing clothes, but didn’t consider making a career out of the hobby until her late 20s, when she moved to New York City, enrolled in The Fashion Institute of Technology and took a job at the city’s top fabric store, Mood Fabrics. Rowland’s skirts-only line took off in 2004, and sales of Sevier Skirts have doubled every year thereafter.

Alex Tolbert is a team member at Bernard Health, a health insurance advisor. Founded in 2006, Bernard Health now employs 12 employees with offices in Nashville, Indianapolis and Louisville. Tolbert attended the University of Pennsylvania and Vanderbilt University.

George Uribe is president of Guestbooker.com. His television experience includes stints at Fox News Channel, MSNBC and CNN. He serves on the board of governors for The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Mid-South Chapter. He holds degrees from George Washington University and North Carolina State University.

Hart Weatherford is the founder of Farmington Financial Group LLC. He has personally originated and closed over $500 million in mortgage loans in his career. Weatherford has consistently been a “Diamond” and “Platinum” awards of excellence winner by the Mortgage Bankers Association. He is a graduate of the University of Tennessee.